USHGA Hang Gliding October 1992 by US Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association

, October 1992 $3.95

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

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must be in U.S. FUNDS drawn on a U.S. BANK. USHGA, PO BOX 8300, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300 FAX (719) 632-6417

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1992 USHGA MERCHANDISE ORDER FORM TOTAL

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1993 USHGA CALENDAR 12" x 12" full-color pictorial of the sport you love ......................................................................................... $9.95 OTHER USHGA CALENDARS SPECIFY YEAR: 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 Excellent Photography-collect them all! .. @$1.50 USHGA "TAOS" T-SHIRTS 100% cotton, oversized, line-lined weathered look. COLORS: Ash Wine Blue SIZES: Med. Large XL .................................................................................................................... $17.95 USHGA "OATMEAL" LONG SLEEVE 100% cotton. Natural color with fine-lined navy stripes and 3" screened logo. Available in MOCK NECK or HOODED SIZES: Med. Large XL ..................................................................................................... $19.95 COLLEGIATE SWEATSHIRT Super heavyweight 11 oz. 11eece · 95% cotton, cross-weave w/ side gussel, 3 colors on ash. SPECIFY SIZE: MEDIUM LARGE XL reg. $39.95 .................................................................................. $34.95 "FREESTYLE" SWEATSHIRT 9 oz. set-in 11eece · 50/50 heavyweighl, beautiful multi-color design on while SPECIFY SIZE: MEDIUM LARGE EXTRA-LARGE ......................................................................................................................... $24.95 ALSO FREESTYLE T-SHIRT 100% preshrunk cotton Med. Large XL ......................................................................................... $14.95 "LOOP" SWEATSHIRT 9 oz. set-in fleece· 50150 heavyweight, red and white on navy SPECIFY SIZE: MEDIUM LARGE EXTRA-LARGE ......................................................................................................................... $19.95 USHGA Golf Shirt 100% combed cotton. Colorfully embroidered. Colors: White Red Navy Yellow Jade Black SIZES: Medium Large X-Large XXL (in white, navy & jade only) ..................................................................................................... $22.95 USHGA LONG SLEEVE T-SHIRT 100% Cotton "Simplistic" Design SPECIFY COLOR: WHITE or GRAY & SIZE S M L XL .......... $18.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER T-SHIRT White-100% cotton. Our most popular shirt. SPECIFY SIZE: M L XL ......................................... $12.95 USHGA YOUTH MTN. GLIDER T-SHIRT For those up and coming pilots. SPECIFY SIZE: S(6-8) M (10-12) L(14-16) .................. $9.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER CAP Embroidered SPECIFY COLOR: NAVY WHITE PURPLE RED ..................................................... $9.95 USHGA CORDUROY CAP Embroidered with "Glider Trails" design SPECIFY COLOR: ROYAL BLUE OFF-WHITE ..................... $9.95

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'*NEW** Hang Gliding magazine "SPECIAL NEW PILOT EDITION" launching, landing, buying a used glider, etc ............................. $4.50 **NEW** Higher Than Eagles by Maralys & Chris Wills. The story of early hang gliding and Bob Wills. Hardcover. ............................. $19.95 '*NEW** UNDERSTANDING THE SKY by Dennis Pagen Micrometeorology 1or pilots. Almost 300 pages, 260 photos & illustrations $19.95 **NEW** THE ART OF SKYSAILING by Michael Robertson. Covers material used in ICPs, including Charts of Reliability .................... $9.95 PARAGLIDING· A PILOT'S TRAINING MANUAL Produced by Wills Wing. Everything you wanted to know about paragliding ......... $19.95 HANG GLIDING FOR BEGINNER PILOTS by Pete Cheney The Official USHGA Training Manual. Over 200 pages ........................ $29.95 PARAGLIDING FLIGHT-Walking on Air by Dennis Pagen Covering all aspects of Paragliding. Over 140 illustrations ................... $19.95 HANG GLIDING FL YING SKILLS by Dennis Pagen Our most popular book. For the beginner to intermediate pilot ......................... $9.95 HANG GLIDING TECHNIQUES by Dennis Pagen Continues where FLYING SKILLS left off. For intermediate to advanced ............... $7.50 RIGHT STUFF FOR NEW HANG GLIDER PILOTS by Erik Fair Overview, humor, techniques and personalities ................................. $8.95 FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS Federal Regulations covering ALL types of aviation .................................................................. $8.95 USHGA DELUXE LOG BOOK 72 pages. Covering pilot ID, ratings, rules, maintenance, inspection, terminology ... and more .............. $4.95 USHGA X-C LOG BOOK 64 pages. Very clean! For those who like to document their flight. ............................................................... $3.95 USHGA FLIGHT LOG BOOK 40 pages. The official USHGA flight log book ........................................................................................... $2.95

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Official USHGA WindsokTM Pink/yellow or pink/white .......................................................................................................................... $39.95 USHGA DELUXE LOG BOOK COVER Gray colored and debossed with the Min. Glider design. Show off your flights ......................... $4.95 USHGA LAPEL PIN Beautiful multi-colored Min. Glider design. Custom shaped pin w/ military clutch and epoxy dome ...................... $4.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER SEW-ON EMBLEM The most beautiful patch you'll ever own. 12 different colors used ................................... $4.95 USHGA MTN. GLIDER DECAL Full color 6" diameter vinyl decal. Guaranteed to last! .......................................................................... $1.50 USHGA KEY CHAIN "Soft Feel" Plastic. Custom Mtn. Glider shaped. Screened white on red .............................................................. $1.50 USHGA SEW-ON EMBLEM Our original logo, in its original colors on this 3" circular emblem ............................................................... $1.50 USHGA EMBLEM DECAL Our original logo, in its original colors on this 3" circular sticker..................................................................... $ .50 USHGA LICENSE PLATE FRAME "I'd Rather Be Hang Gliding" PLASTIC-white with blue lettering ........................................ $5.50 METAL-(zinc) with while on blue lettering ............................ $6.50 "NEW** DAREDEVIL FLYERS 111 • THE PARAGLIDING VIDEO The Wills Wing gang paraglides at Telluride, CO (50 min.) ............ $24.95 **NEW" HAWAIIAN FLYIN' video. Hang gliding and paragliding in paradise! Awesome scenery! (46 min.) ......................................... $33.00 **NEW'* HANG GLIDING EXTREME video. Lei's you see some of the most spectacular sites and introduces you to some famous pilots! (50 min.) ............................................................................................................................... $34.95 MAGAZINE COLLECTOR BINDER Brown vinyl binder wl gold lettering. Wire inserts to hold 12 issues of HG .................................... $9.00 *USHGA ERIC RAYMOND POSTER 24" X 37" Eric doing oxygen at 17,000 MSL over the Sierra Nevada Range ................................ $5.95 *USHGA HANG GLIDING POSTER 22" X 28" Colorful nostalgic standard Rogallo Hying into the golden sunset. (Circa 1977) ............. $3.95 'Posters are NOT AVAILABLE on International Orders-SORRY!

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FAX (719) 632-6417

Volume 22

CONTENTS

Issue No. 10

(USPS 017-970-20)

Features

Columns

13 1992 USHGA Regional Director Election

20 USHGA Reports Fall USHGA BOD meeting agenda.

23 Competition Corner

Candidates' resumes. Use the ballot attached to this issue. and don't forget to fill out the questionnaire.

Cross Country Classic International results. 1992 Chelan, WA Cross Country Classic report by Lenny Brown.

16 Pilot Report: Blackhawk EZ Harness

24 Accident Reports Ballistic over M t. Seven by Dave Corbin. Accident Review by Doug Hildreth. Deployment failw-e by Butch Peachy.

28 Return To Oshkosh

62 Product Lines

by Rod Hauser

by Dan Johnson

More good PR for hang glid ing at the famous aviation get-together.

PacAir Vision Classic, PR in AOPA Pilol, Wills news, electronic gizmos and more.

35 Site Reports: Hobbs,NM Miller Canyon, AZ

Departments

40 Double Exposure by Debra Roos Ao experienced sky diver gives our sport a try. She's impressed.

44 Weak Links, Lines & Releases

Page40

7 10 12 51 57 57 58

Airmail Update Calendar of E vents Classified Advertising Index to Advertisers Stolen Wings Ratings

by Brad Lindsay Some empirical data on weak links.

COVER: Lau nching towa rd Half Dome fromGlacier

47 Island Hopping

Point in Yosemite, CA. Photo by Mike McCluskey. CENTER SPR EAD: Above the Yosemite LZ. Photo by Dirk Darling

by Randy Adams An unusual way to extend an X-C flight.

49 Rock Climbing For Hang Glider Pilots by Erik Fair Hang gliding old-timer and former Hang Gliding magazine editor Rich Grigsby ta lks about another adventure sport.

O CTOBER 1992

DISCLAIMER O F W ARRANTIES IN PUBLI-

CATIONS: The materi al prese nted here is published as part of an information dissemination service for US HGA members. The US HGA makes no wan-anties or representations and assumes no liabil ity con. cerning the validity of any adv ice, opinion or recommendation expressed in lhe materi al. All individua ls relying upon the material do so at their own risk. Copyright © 1992 United States Hang Gl iding Assoc iation, Inc. All rights reserved to Hang Gliding and individual contributors.

$9.95 plus shipping

Please rush me _ _ 1993 USHGA Hang Gliding Calendar(s) at $9.95 each.

SHIPPING Quantity Shipping 1-3 $3.50 4-6 $5 .00 7-10 $6.00 In the 48 states, we prefer to ship via UPS.

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Calendar Subtotal $- - Colorado residents add 3 % soles tax$- - Shipping (see chart) $ _ __ TOTAL (Make checks payable to USHGA. ) $ _ __

Name---------------------

Address- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - City _ _ _ _ _ _State _ _ _ Zip_ __

MAIL TO: USHGA, PO Box 8300, Colorado Springs CO 80933-8300 Phone: (719) 632-8300 FAX: (719) 632-6417

Gil Dodgen, Editor/Art Director John Heiney, Leroy Grannis Photographers Harry Martin, Illustrator Dennis Pagen, Rodger Hoyt, G.W. Meadows Staff Writers Tim Rinker, Design Consultant

Office Staff Jerry Bruning, Executive Director Greg Huller, Ratings & ICP's Cindy Evans, Member Services PJ More, Special Projects & Competitions Stu Clark, Insurance & Member Services Jeff Elgart, Marketing & Advertising D. Dean Leyerle, Merchandise Services

USHGA Officers and Executive Committee: Gregg Lawless, President Paul Voight, Vice President Russ Locke, Secretary Dan Johnson, Treasurer

REGION 1:Gene Matthews. REGION 2: Lynda Nelson, Russ Locke, Connie Bowen. REGION 3: Joe Greblo, Sandy King, Gregg Lawless. REGION 4: Mark Macho, Glen Nicolet. REGION 5: Mike King. REGION 6: Ron Kenney. REGION 7: Rod Hauser. REGION 8: Randy Adams. REGION 9: Pete Lehmann, Jeff Sims. REGION 10: Matt Taber, Rick Jacob. REGION11: Jeff Hunt. REGION 12: Paul Voight, Paul Riker!. DIRECTORS AT LARGE: Dan Johnson, Jerry Forburger, Jan Johnson, Dennis Pagen. HONORARY DIRECTORS: Ken Brown, Lisa Tate, Jim Zeise!, Doug Hildreth, G.W. Meadows, Tom Kreyche, Mike Meier, Rob Kells, Fred Stockwell, Terry Reynolds. EX-OFFICIO DIRECTOR: Art Greenfield (NAA).

The United States Hang Gliding Association Inc. is an air sports organization affiliated with the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) which is the official representative of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), of the world governing body for sport aviation. The NAA, which represents the U.S. at FAI meetings, has delegated to the USHGA supervision of FA I-related hang gliding activities such as record attempts and competition sanctions. HANG GLIDING magazine is published for hang gliding sport enthusiasts to create further interest in the sport, by a means of open communication and to advance hang gliding methods and safety. Contributions are welcome. Anyone is invited to contribute articles, photos, and illustrations concern·1ng hang gliding activities. If the material is to be returned, a stamped, selfaddressed return envelope must be enclosed. Notification must be made of submission to other hang gliding publications. HANG GLIDING magazine reserves the right to edit contributions where necessary. The Association and publication do not assume responsibility for the material or opinions of contributors. HANG GLIDING editorial offices: 6950 Aragon Circle, Suite 6, Buena Park, CA 90620 (714) 994-3050. HANG GLIDING (USPS 017 -970) is published monthly by the United States Hang Gliding Association, Inc., 559 E. Pikes Peak Ave., Suite 101, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903 (719) 632-8300. FAX (719) 632-6417. Second-class postage is paid at Colorado Springs, CO and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: SEND CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO: HANG GLIDING, P.O. BOX 8300, Colorado Springs, 80933-8300.

The USHGA is a member-controlled sporl and educational organization dedicated to exploring all facets of unpowered ultralight flight. Membership is open to anyone interested in this realm of flight. Dues for full membership are $49.00 per year (of which $15 goes to the publication of Hang Gliding), ($55 Canada & Mexico, $60 foreign); subscription rates only are $35.00 ($40 Canada & Mexico, $50 foreign). Changes of address should be sent six weeks in advance, including name, USHGA number, previous and new address, and a mailing label from a recent issue. OCTOBER 1992

Volume 22, Issue No. 10

AIRMAIL Swift Comments Dear Editor, After reading Brian Porter's article "The Swift, Dominating the Pre-Worlds," all I can do is shake my head and laugh, once again, at the countless, meaningless comparisons between the Swift and Class I flex wing hang gliders. The point of competition is to measure pilot skill, hopefully on an even playing field. The reason flex wings and rigid wings are in different classes is that they are radically different. The Swift is clearly a work of art, a beautiful glider capable of outperforming any other foot-launchable aircraft. Unfortunately, several characteristics of the glider prohibit general acceptance by the masses. The first is its 125-pouncl empty weight. Transportation is also awkward with a huge hard-shell box required. And with all experimental aircraft, when you damage the thing, like break a leading edge, replacement or repair is very time consuming and expensive. The last factor is the high cost. Flex wings appeal to the masses because they don't suffer from the above limitations. So Brian, the next time you write a sugar-coated article on how great the Swift is, try to keep the comparisons in context. Class II hang gliders are rare beasts, beautiful to watch and speculate about. Keep the faith and good luck, but please keep the zooms to a minimum. Nicholas Kennedy Telluride, CO

Dear Editor, Well, my hat is off to the Swift team for their accomplishments in soaring flight. I truly feel that history is being made, or, should I say, being RE-made. They have reinvented the sailplane - a foot launchable one, to be sure - but a contraption that hang glider pilots have chosen to shun, and for good reason. First, what is the essence of hang gliding that makes it different from flying sailplanes? I think, and many others would agree, that flying inside a canopy and using a stick for control tarnishes truly free flight. Second, what makes hang gliding so unique is that you, yourself, can remove a 20foot, 70-pouncl bundle from the top of your

car, unfold it, fly it to heights unimagined by land-lubbers to distant locations, and pack it a couple of miles out of the boonies. You can do it all yourself, without the need for the support crew required for a rigid wing. Last, I take offense at the tone of Brian Porter's article. He all but sneers at flex-wing pi lots, derides the competition for being geared to flex wing pilots, and complains about unequal treatment. Just as we flex wing pilots do not consider ourselves to be in the same class as paraglicler pilots, and don't attempt to dominate their competitions, neither should the little sailplane consider itself to be a true hang glider. Go compete with those 40: 1 machines and see how you fare. Mike Badley Sacramento, CA

Weak Link Update Dear Editor, In my article on weak links, 1 am embarrassed to realize that I inadvertently substituted the name of an old friend, Hewlett Phillips, for Skyting pioneer, Dr. Donnell Hewett. I apologize to all concerned. I just recently found that my data about the strength of the 9/64" leech line weak links I tested is inaccurate. My new line tension meter indicates that they fail at about 400 lbs. (See Brad Lindsay's article in this issue. Ed.)

Because of this discovery, I made up some weak links that break at 265 lbs. A local pilot flight tested them for me. We had the payout winch set to 170 lbs. and found that the 265-lb. weak links consistently failed on launch. In so much as my winch starts letting rope out at precisely the set tension, I can only guess that the impulse line tension on launch, clue to drum inertia, must be quite high. I can imagine that if a winch's design minimizes rotational inertia, then the breaking strength of the weak link can be closer to the preset line tension. Here in the Dallas area many of us use weak links as tested to the 400-lb. breaking strength. Our experience shows that they consistently fail safely on overload. Thus, I must modify my view to say that 400-lb. weak links seem to have been proven safe by

AIRMAIL experience, which is the only real standard we have. As an addendum, I will describe the method of testing I devised. I have a surplus hydraulic cylinder which both pushes and pulls. I obtained a 600-PSI, glycerin-filled fluid pressure gauge and a snubber. The snubber is a line restticlion device to protect the gauge from damage by clamping rapid changes in pressure. I attached the snubber and the gauge to the pull side of the hydraulic cylinder, and filled it with aircraft hydraulic fluid. I calibrated the gauge by testing it against a spring cotton scale. As the gauge reading is in pounds per square inch, the reading on the gauge needs to be divided by the area of the plunger of the hydraulic cylinder on the pull side. Serendipitously, it happens to be one square inch, so the gauge reading co1Tesponcls to pounds. Thus I have a line tension meter with a range of 0-600 lbs., readable to 5-lb. increments, and accurate to about+- 5% at mid-range. I have a driveway with a slight slope. I parked my vehicle on the driveway facing clown so that I could attach weak links and the line tension meter between it and a fixed object. It turns out that by just letting the vehicle creep clown the driveway using the brake, I can gradually apply pressure to the weak link and very accurately find at what tension it breaks. This method's accuracy, of course, depends on the accuracy of the line tension meter which is not calibrated to laboratory standards, but the results turned out to be very repeatable, which implies that the measuring method is okay. Dave Broyles Allen, TX

Fly-In Of The Century Dear Editor, Okay, let's keep digging into the "bigger and better" files and see how far it goes. As far as I can tell, the "fly-in of the century" is still the monster of all monster events. This was a two-day World Team fund-raiser hosted by the Motherlocle Skyriclers of Lake McClure, California which boasted 240 registered pilots. (We ran out of registration

forms at that point, but that's the official number.) By the way, the wind gods love a noncompetitive event. It was soarable from 11 :00 AM until dark every clay, and the spirit of the event was one of cooperation and fun. Any challengers out there know of a bigger one?

be a tremendous duplication of effort if the USHGA and the APA are allowed to remain separate entities. It is only by combining forces that the future of ultralight soaring is to be assured. Steve Kessinger Sebastopol, CA

Briggs Christie Santa Clara, CA

Kindred Safety Lessons A Rose By Any Other Name A Proposal Dear Editor, In the early 1970's a new form of aviation was invented. At first the newcomer was ignored, until its rising profile forced the aviation community to face its existence. From the difficult times of the 1970' s the United States Hang Gliding Association was able to survive through its many difficult years and evolve into one of the only selfregulating and safest forms of flight. In the early 1990's the aviation community is again being forced to deal with a new form of flying. Paragliclers are not hang gliders. The Bright Star Swift is also not a hang glider, but according to FAR 103 it is an ultralight vehicle, classified by the USHGA as a Class I Rigid Wing Ultralight Vehicle. My Duck 160 is a USHGA Class II Ultralight Vehicle, and my friend Andy's paraglicler is neither a rigid wing nor a flex wing hang glider, but it too is an Ultralight Vehicle according to the FAA and FAR 103. For paragliders to be self-regulated under Part 103 they must duplicate the functions the USHGA already has in place. I would therefore like to propose the following: That the USHGA and the APA be disbanded. That a new organization be formed, combining the best of the USHGA and the APA, that will regulate canopy, rigid and semi-rigid wings. That the wings be divided into three classes, with the appropriate flight skills required to hold a rating in each class. I feel that by bringing paraglicler pilots into an established system, with rules and regulations, more control can be exercised over these fledgling pilots. I realize that this proposal is not perfect, however, we must face the fact that there will

Dear Editor, I recently subscribed to Approach: The Naval Aviation Safety Review. Most of the articles are brief descriptions and analysis of near-accidents, many of them in "there I was ... " fmmat. You might not think that flexwing pilots have much in common with fighter jocks, but the root causes of their accidents are very similar to ours. Do any of these sound familiar? Inexperienced pilots not speaking up about dangerous situations because "the experienced guys must know what they're doing." Experienced pilots violating normal procedures because "rules are for average pilots; I'm good enough to handle any problems." Experienced pilots violating normal procedures "just this once" because of time constraints, peer pressure, or weather. Student pilots misinterpreting instructions, or student pilots blindly following instructions, even if they make no sense in the present situation. Forgetting to fly the aircraft while distracted by equipment, communication, or navigation problems. Equipment failure because "I thought somebody else checked that." Many stories also illustrate how a chain of seemingly minor problems can easily result in a major disaster. The Navy has steadily improved its safety record by establishing uniform standards, continuous training, and rapid dissemination of new information and procedures. We don't need more regulation, but we all need to share what we know. Write an article, write a letter, give a talk, or just offer to help when you see a problem. Each of us has something to teach, and none of us can afford to stop learning. Approach is available from the U.S. Government Printing Office. Peter Burghardt Brighton, MA HANG GLIDING

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GONE

AIRMAIL Higher Than Eagles Dear Editor, I met Bob Wills only briefly in the mid 70's. He seemed like a genuinely nice person, intensely in love with (and very good at) the new sport of hang gliding. Later. on hearing of his death, I felt our sport had lost one of its best, and somehow regretted that I would never have the chance to know him better. To my surprise, I recently had that chance, thanks to Maralys Wills' book, Higher Than Eagles. She also gives personal insights and tells wonderful stories of the coming of age of modern hang gliding, as well as a touching inside look at a very human family. I hope more pilots will discover her book; it deserves to be read. Thank you Mrs. Wills. Mark Sawyer Tucson, AZ Higher Than Eagles is available ji"om USHGA headquarters.~ Ed.

In Defense Of Rochester Dear Editor, I very much enjoyed the article in the August '92 issue of Hang Gliding about Eric Raymond. He is an amazing guy and a true sky god. However, like the Greek gods, he apparently is not infallible. I take issue with his assertion that Rochester, New Yark is the WORST place in the country for hang gliding. I admit that sometimes the sun is reported as a UFO, and an ad on the radio promotes upstate New York as a good vacation spot because you don't need sunscreen, but surely there must be someplace worse for hang gliding than Rochester. I will certainly not argue that Rochester is the best hang gliding locale in the U.S., but I would like to provide some facts to support the argument that it should not be considered the worst. The weather in Rochester itself is heavily influenced by Lake Ontario, but the weather improves markedly as one drives a short distance south into the hills of the Finger Lakes region of New York. The local hang gliding club is the Rochester Area

Flyers (RAF) and consists of about 60 members. Closely affiliated is the Finger Lakes Association of Pilots (FLAP). Together, these jointly directed clubs control three training sites and eight high sites facing every wind direction. The sites vary from 600'-1,200' AGL, with an average of about 900' AGL. The closest site is a west-facing 1,000' AGL ridge, 30-40 minutes from downtown Rochester. The most distant site is a 900' northwest-facing cliff launch 90 minutes away. All our sites are suitable for ridge soaring, thermal soaring, and crosscountry flights. In 1991, one RAF/FLAP pilot logged just short of 500 cross-country miles. About 50'7c of his flights were cross-country. The longest flight of the year was an 85-miler. We have a fair proportion of X-C pilots, and 4050 milers are commonplace. The X-C record for an RAF/FLAP site is !05 miles. Our duration record is over six hours, and our altitude gain record is 7,000+'. All of our flying is foot launched, as there is currently no towing in the area (which will hopefully change in the future). We rarely have drivers chase tis, relying instead on our natural charm and good looks lo procure a ride back to our vehicles. The RAF conducts a hang gliding training program once yearly. The program runs for 8-10 weeks each spring and costs a total of $400. That nominal fee includes all equipment and lessons seven days per week (weather pennitting). Our three training hills (20 minutes from Rochester) face all wind directions except clue south and range from 80-140'. In 1991, one third of all instructors in Region 12 belonged to the RAF. None of our instructors is paid for his/her time. We volunteer our time in order to promote hang gliding in the area. We offer by far the least expensive hang gliding instruction program that l know of. So, on the strength of these arguments, I submit that the Rochester area is NOT the WORST hang gliding locale in the country. For the sake of argument (and since I don't know anyone there), l will nominate ... oh, let's see, how about ... Brownsville, Texas as the WORST place in the country to hang glide. Tillman Farley Rochester, NY

BALLISTIC l 0.6°/o to 23.4% IN ONEYEARI That's over l,OOOnewbuyers! According to 1,43 l USHGA member surveys from late '91,

pilots ··going ballistic" leaped from 10.6% to 23.4%since ·go_

BRS' popular "Quick Draw" CORDLESS model can be easily installed on many leading harnesses,

$499.

THANKS FOR YOUR BUSINESS ! Now,totheother76.6%ofyou ... We can think of many good reasons you should go ballistic today. Here's four of our very best: JEFF WYNS (7 /89) BRS Save #35 GREG ROSSIGNOL (6/90) #40 CARL SHORIT (8/90) #44 BRUCE BOLLES (7 /91) #52 BRS has documented 54 saves thnJ 12/31/91

I BRS sells rocket models which

• swiftly (in under 1 sec) deploy your chest-mounted parachute. Ask your harness maker about their "BRS Option" so you can quickly add our CORDLESS rocket.

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'---------------------'--------------------' ~ - - - - - - - - - - - !) OCTOBER 1992

UPDATE USHGA Member Volunteer Opportunity Telecomp Corporation is compiling a database of people willing to donate two, three or more weeks of their time in 1993 in order to share their expertise with people in the former Soviet Union. Telecomp is asking anyone with a skill, vocation or avocation, that he or she feels is worth sharing, to describe it in three or four paragraphs along with address and telephone number, to be added to the database for access by organizations and agencies working under the aegis of the Freedom Support Act of 1992, which is responsible for grass-roots technical assistance programs to the fonner Soviet Union. Anyone contributing to Telecomp's database may access it without a service charge. Anyone willing to provide direct technical assistance via the medium of electronic mail and/or electronic bulletin board is also asked to indicate this fact. Knowledge of Russian is not required. With your assistance, you, as a member of the U.S. Hang Gliding Association, could enjoy a profoundly enriching personal experience at no cost and contribute meaningfully to establishing democratic and freemarket structures in the states that have replaced the old Soviet Union. An information and request form, to volunteer to participate in this Telecomp program and to have individual data entered into the Telecomp database, is available from USHGA Headquarters, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933. Please write or call (719) 632- 8300 to request a form.

TBT Address Change La11'y Keegan ofTBT, Inc., manufacturer of hang glider tow systems, announces that the company has moved from Texas to Kansas. The new address is 1627 Kenwood, Olathe, KS 66062 (913) 764-2991. They are completing testing on an automatic lineleveling system that will be available by December of this year. Look for an upcoming winter promotion that will feature sale prices, and free tow line and releases.

Sugar Hill , CA LZ Usage The property at the base of Sugar Hill, running from an east/west line along the Sugar Hill crest south for about a mile on both sides of Highway 395 and encompassing what has been considered to be the primary LZ, also refe1Ted to as the "bail-out" LZ is private property! The owner has specifically stated that he does not want this property used as an LZ, and hereby requests that it not be used except in an emergency. If an emergency landing must be made, the owner requests such emergency use be restricted as follows: 1) Walk your glider to the edge of the road (Hwy 395). Please do not enter the property with a vehicle except for medical emergency. 2) Break down as quickly as possible and get your equipment over the fence and onto the highway right-of-way as soon as you can. 3) Please do not congregate or tany on the property. Leave the premises as soon as possible.

USHGA Site Management Manual The Site Management Committee of the USHGA Board of Directors would like to let chapters and individual pilots know about the recently completed Site Management Manual. If you've ever had to make a presentation to a landowner or a bureaucrat, and haven't had the material available that you needed to do a professional job, you know how frustrating the task can be. If you've ever had to write a letter or make a speech and wondered where to begin, this manual will be extremely helpful. The Site Management Manual includes historical information on different sites across the country, including how they were acquired and how they've been maintained. It gives examples of special use permits, lease agreements, risk analyses, site rules, purchase agreements and much more. Also included is a slick presentation packet that has everything you need to make a professional presentation. After receiving his copy of this new Site Management Manual, Tom Bell, acting

President of the Atlanta Hang Gliding Association, wrote the following to the USHGA office: "You folks have really outdone yourselves with this one. I can't begin to tell you how impressed I am with the quality and quantity of information presented. This manual is already giving our new club a huge head start in understanding how to organize ourselves and how to go about securing and managing new flying sites. Hats off to all involved for a job very well done." We thank you for your comments Tom. If anyone out there is interested in purchasing this manual call Jeff Elgart at USHGA headquarters at (719) 632-8300. The USHGA is selling the manual for $50, the approximate cost of producing and shipping it.

New Book On Wave Soaring Practical Wave Flying, Revised Edition, by Mark Palmer, is the definitive book on mountain wave. Drawing from his years of experience as a glider instructor at Black Forest Gliderport in Colorado Springs, Mr. Palmer has put together a book that covers all aspects of this little understood phenomenon. Although originally written for sailplane pilots, Practical Wave Flying should be of interest to hang glider pilots for its comprehensive look at mountain wave flying. The book covers the mechanics of mountain wave, how it works and how it can be forecast. It discusses flight preparation, oxygen systems and physiology. It also details flight techniques for climbing to altitude and cross-country flight, and contains valuable hints and tips for wave flying. Practical Wave Flying is available for $12.95 plus $2.00 postage and handling from Lenticular Publishing, P.O. Box 3842, Englewood, CO 80155-3842.

Blue Sky Hang Gliding School The Mid-Atlantic region now has a new hang gliding school. Blue Sky is opening its doors to specialize in tandem towing instruction. Tandem Instructor Steve Wendt, formerly of Kitty Hawk Kites, brings along 17 years of hang gliding experience to head

HANG GLIDING

UPDATE up the new company, along with instructor and illustrator Tex Fonest. Blue Sky will also offer custom-sewn flying equipment such as glider bags, towing bridles and accessories, as well as sail and frame repair and training hill instruction. They will also offer solo towing clinics for advancing mountain pilots. Blue Sky is located near Harrisonburg, Virginia, in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Contact: Blue Sky, P.O. Box 212, Penn Laird, VA 22846 (703) 432-6557.

and Sidekick, a self-contained system consisting of the rocket motor, a parachute container and the parachute. Parachutes are currently available in 16-, 18- and 20-gore configurations, with 20-foot, 22-foot, and 24foot nominal diameters, respectively. Under development at this time is a Sidekick system with a hand-deploy option. Contact: Recovery Concepts International, 2060 A East Main Street, Woodland, CA 95776 (916) 661-7243, FAX (916) 6610528.

RGI Ballistic Systems

Crestline, CA LZ Update

Recovery Concepts International, of Woodland, California, is pleased to announce the availability of a new line of rocketdeployed emergency parachute systems, designed specifically for hang gliders and paragliders. The benefits of rocket deployment are being recognized in the foot-launch flight community. According to the company, RC! set out to develop systems that would maximize the inherent benefits of such systems, while solving some of the problems apparent in earlier designs and similar products. Their product line consists of Lifeline, a rocket motor system to be retrofitted to a pilot's existing emergency parachute system,

The Crestline Soaring Society is getting a new landing zone located 1.25 miles east of the current LZ. The old site is being excavated as part of the Devil Canyon power plant project, and some of the dirt is going to be used to build up the new LZ. This means that there will be no official LZ for a projected period of two to three months. Due to the large amount of equipment and construction activity in the area between these two sites, there can be no landings in the immediate vicinity during this period. We have support from the State DWR but our relationship with the County of San Bernardino is tenuous at best. If we can avoid any conflicts arising from landings interfering with construction it would be better for all

concerned. Anyone flying from Crestline while the LZ is under construction should have crosscountry landing skills and/or be able to topland at Marshall Peak. Please be aware that there is a San Bernardino City Ordinance against landing hang gliders within the city limits. There will be a map detailing the restricted areas posted at the launch site. The good news is that the new LZ will be custom made. It will be approximately 450' long, 350' wide, and will have a IO-foot rise when landing into the prevailing wind. There will not be a locked gate on the access road, as we have had to deal with at our present location. More detailed information on the new LZ will be released when construction is actually completed. For the latest information contact: Marilyn Soderquist, CSS President, (714) 677-7015, Ken Howells, CSS Site Coordinator (714) 886-6581, or any local hang gliding school.

Schutte Sails Relocates Schutte Sails has relocated, but will remain the U.S. distributor for Cross Country magazine and Swing Paragliders. Bob or Gayle Schutte may be contacted at: 170 East Main St., Arcade, NY 14009, phone/FAX (716) 492-4576.

Discover Tropical Skies

SAFARI SKY TOURS Celebrating Five Years Of Service!

$695.00 u.s Weekly Tours Include: 7 Days of Flying Gliders From Pacific Airwave Hotel Accommodations Transport & Retrieval Guide Service & Much More

* * * * *

1992-1993 Schedule December - Colima & Tapalpa, Mexico January - Valle de Bravo, Mexico Feb. & March - Panajachel, Guatemala April - Guanajuato, Mexico

References Proudly Provided Contact: Welcome Aboard Travel, Phone (702) 828-4000 Fax (702) 828-4110

THE ADVENTURE BEGINS WHEN YOU LAND! OCTOBER 1992

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Calendar of events items WILL NOT be listed if only tentative. Please include exact information (event, date, contact name and phone number). Items should be received no later than six weeks prior to the event. We request two months lead time for regional and national meets. Until Dec. 1: 1992 Region 9 Year-long X-C Contest. Fly from any site on any day. Winner will be the pilot with the single longest flight of the year. Open and Rookie Classes. Contact: Pete Lehmann, 5811 Elgin St., Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (412) 661-3474 (before 9:00 PM) FAX 3436. Until Dec. 31: East Coast X-C Contest. Send description of longest East Coast flight to: Randy Adams, P.O. Box 369, Claremont, NH 03743. Flights may be foot- or tow-launch and must originate east of Mississippi. Oct. 3: (rain date Oct. 10) CHGAIMHGA' s First Annual Fly and Fryl"The Pulpit" JO-year birthday party, McConnellsburg, PA. Celebrating the 10th year of site ownership. Fun flying and barbecue, as well as team and individual X-C events, with an emphasis on fun! Campgrounds and motels nearby. Contact: Capitol HGA (301) 441-3095. Oct. 3-6: JCP. Contact: Pat Denevan, Mission Soaring Center (408) 262-1055 Milpitas, CA. Oct. 3-11: USHGA National Fly-In, Lookout Mountain Flight Park, near Chattanooga, TN. Mountain and thermal soaring (Novice and above), aerotowing to 3,000 feet, manufacturers' Demo Days, clinics and other activities, swimming pool, volleyball and camping in the LZ. Fun for the whole family. Contact: Lookout Mtn. Flight Park (706) 398-3541. Oct. 8: Nat' I meeting for USHGA Certified Instructors, prior to the USHGA BOD meeting. Contact: Pat Denevan (408) 262-1055 Milpitas, CA. Oct. 9-11: USHGAfall Board of Directors meeting, at Holiday Inn, Milpitas, CA. Open to the membership; come and

bring an opinion. Contact: USHGA Headquarters (719) 632-8300. Oct. 10-11: 6th Annual Gary Lagrone Memorial Fly-In, Point of the Mtn., Utah, to benefit Save The Children. Hang gliding and paragliding out-andreturn. Classes A and B. Prizes for top three places in each category. Entry $25. Contact: Valerie Ca1rnll, 11982 South 700 West, Draper, UT 84020 (801) 5725869, FAX (801) 262-8656. Oct. 10-12: Rio Grande Soaring Assn. Columbus Day Fly-In. No tasks, no trophies, no fees. Come and fly October skies in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Meet at 9:00 AM in LZ on Florida Ave. Contact: Tommy West (505) 437-5213 or Robin Hastings (505) 382-7446. Oct. 11-13: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assn. 1992 Expo, Las Vegas Riviera Hotel. Seminars, new products, banquet. Contact: Tom Korzeniowski (301) 6952162.

Dec. 27-Jan. 8, 1993: New Zealand Hang Gliding and Paragliding Assn. National Championships. Held at the Kaimai and Paeroa Ranges in the Waikato-Rotorua district of the north island. Overseas pilots invited. Glider rental, accommodations and transport can be ananged. Contact: Ross Gaddes, Bossons Rd., Te Aroha, New Zealand, tel. 07-884-8184. Jan. 15-29, 1993: 2nd New Zealand Hang Gliding and Paragliding Safari. Beginner to advanced. Limited group size. Contact: Santa Barbara HG & PG Center (805) 962-8999. March 13-20, 1993: Paragliding X-C Meet. March 20-27, 1993: Master Cup of Hang Gliding. Governador Valadares, Brazil.

Oct. 17-18: Vision Classic, sponsored by PacAir and Mtn. Wings, Ellenville, NY. Low-key competition for any Vision glider pilot. Family fun events for nonpilots. Contact: (914) 647-3377. Other Vision Classics: Oct. 24-25: Lookout Mtn. Flight Park, Chattanooga, TN. Oct. 30-31: Kitty Hawk Kites, Nags Head, NC. March 6-7, 1993: Mission Soaring/ Airtime, Milpitas, CA.

The Only Ultralight Good Enough for Hang Glider Pilots Glide: 15 to 1 Sink: 250 fpm Span: 40 ft Empty Wt: 254 lbs Built: Ready-To-Fly

Oct. 24: Octobe1fest celebration and fly-in. Come enjoy the great fall soaring and colors. Food and entertainment. Landing field fund-raiser. Oct. 24-31: 1992 Team Challenge. Three- to five-person teams. Hang II OK. Lots of fun. If you don't have a team don't wony, you'll be assigned one. Contact: Sequatchie Valley Soaring, Rt. 2 Box 80, Dunlap, TN 37327 (615) 949-3384.

~ <!:IL©M!QJ !QJ~n,IJ«:lfill. World's Only Ultralight Motorglider • Electric Starter • Spoilerons for roll control; dual use cuts glide (15 to 7) • Cantilevered wings, no cables or struts • Car top to flying by one pilot in 20 min • BRS rocket parachute • Rotax 277 - 28 hp, uses 1 gal/hr • Cruises 65 mph • Includes: Airspeed, Tach, Engine Instruments

Dec. 11-20: American Cup, Tumut, NSW Australia. International teams invited. Contact: Ian Jarman, 143 Wynyard St., P.O. Box 558 Tumut, NSW 2720 Australia, tel. & FAX (069) 472888.

Please Request Info Pak: HG 265 Echo Lane So. St. Paul MN 55075

HANG GLIDING

to allow a single national from paragliding organization lo grow and prosper.

me by working hard at Regional Director.

a responsible

have been your Director for nearly Cour years and serve as the Chairman of the Insurance Committee. Despite a case or chronic heartburn which goes wit It the posit ion, l enjoy working fort he sport orhanggliding and ask the I to reelect me as your Director. pilots or I am one oft he few Directors who d()(:S 1101 have a cmrnncrcial interest in hang gliding and foci that this perspcctivt, is underrepresented on the USHGJ\ Board of Directors. view is that preserving airspace and flying sites is the most critical challenge facing pilots in I and nationwide. I will focus much of my attention i11 these areas in the years. I cncourngc parnglider pilots to themselves locally and nationally and 10 develop a positive relationship with lJSH<lJ\ and its local chapters to promote our airspace mutual intcn:sts, especially and rlying sites. l favor USIIGJ\ withdrawal OcroBEI, l 992

ClHlwncr, Adventure Sports, Inc., Carson Nevada. since 1974, Master rating I 979. Worked for l)clta Wing Gliders, t•:aglcman Gliders, Skybird Wings, High Sierra Sports. Examiner, J\dvanccd Instructor, Tandem II lnstrnctor, Meet Director ror Region ll Regionals in '89, '9 I and '92. The enjoyment of flight and the camaraderie or fellow pilots should he the number one goal. I believe pilots, n,gardlcss or experience or rating, deserve the same respect and re pre· sent at ion. The promotion of om sport and the elevation ofom irnagl: through public relations with a technician's cc.rtifica· tion program would benefit us all. I feel it's my turn to to the sport for all it's given

I lcllo Region 3. My name is Sandy King and I have been one of your Regional Directors fort he last four years. Fleet ion time is here once and I'd be glad to continue in the position sho11 Id you choose to reelect me. Shortly after joining the Board of Directors in 1988 I was appointed Chairwoman oft he Site Management Committee. Overt he lasl two years the committee has completed the Site Management Manual. With the help of the US! IGA ofTicc stall it is now available for clubs, and individual pilots. hlr more information on the contents and availability or this manual sec the UPDATE scctio11 of this month's magar:inc. The ncxl big project for this committee will be the National Site Guide. Obviously this is a long-term project and one that I believe will provide significant benefit to our membership. For this reason I am asking you to elect me to another term as your Regional Director sol can sec this next project to completion. In the lasl l wo years l have also volunteered my time working both the l J.S. National competition as well as the Prc"·World meet in the Owens Valley. J\s Regional Director I intend to continue to help lhlo team

as long as they arc running cmnpc1i1ions in the Owens Valley, Other issues I am concerned with include quality inslrnction provided throughout the na · Lion, the tandem program and successful integration of paragliding at our sites. I'm also intc:n,sted in the promotion or hang gliding for women pilots. The last fom years! have enjoyed not only participating in the sport or hang gliding but also guiding and shaping the evolution of our sporL If reelected I will represent the pilots or omrcgim1 tot he best ofmy ability and sec:k your vote or eonridenee.

moved to Chino Valley, Arizona, I'm not a newcomer to the area. My interest was perked to hang gliding in l 973 at Shaw Bulle Mountain in North Phoenix, to Wisconsin in 1975, and eventually Regional Director of R(:gion 7, you sec my interest has not dwindled. 011 the Board or Dircclors for lhe ]4

pasl two years has been enjoyable and rewarding. Becoming involved in the Tow Cornmi11ce has been cnlighlcning, We have a tough job lo sor1 thro11gh and we 'vc got great people on the team tltc job done. ( 'urrcntly, I am Chairman oflhc Member·· ship and Development Commitlec. I feel very strongly loward this committee, and my cxpc1icncc in opening airports across the country for glider towing, compliments this committee, along with oursimulatorand information booth. People love a hands-on demo with q11aliriccl people staffing lhc booth for their questions, Wl: ncl:d lo cd11ca1c Lile public if we arc to gain any respect in our sporL I enjoy on the Board and I ask for your volt,, I enjoy promoting hang gliding to achieve the respect ii ckscrvcs. Wlwthcr you vote for mysel r or another candidate, vote. Let's make 4 thc volcr turnout for this election. Thank you f'or your support.

I've li(:en a pilot l'or I '.l years and a regional direc1or for two yGars, I'm a member of Wcsl crn Massacl111sc1ts Jiang (]lid Club, Skyriclcrs, Connecticut llang (]lidi11g J\ssociaHi\NC CUJllNC

tion and lhe treasurer or the Vermont Jiang Gliding Association. My objective as the regional director is to a voice to our local at the national level. I've passed out questionnaires and visited our local clubs seekopinions and concerns. I hold a regional each year to improve communication in the region. In the next two years I will conccntrntc on and protecting sites and making hang gliding safor and more able in New L11gland.

lam a masterratc:d pilot with over I yc:ars I am a former Grandfather Mtn. learn flyer and l am a rounding member or the Gliding Association. Mountaineer I am currently the rtighl director of the Maryland Hang ntiding Assn. In adclition lam a rncmbcr or the Capitol llang (]liclcrs i\ssn. and the Central Virginia Jiang ( ,tiding Assn. I intend to help the pilots of 9 by being accessible and helping to make the administra lion of USl!Gi\ programs a li!l lc more user friendly.

OCTOBER ·t 992

l 'll 11ot blow my horn to long about my past 20 years of hang gliding or the accomplish"" mcnts of count less adventures across America. The fact that I live on top of a site with a launch in my backyard displays my zest for the sport. I do want to slate that site preservation and are the most serious items that affect our future. To provide: the most enjoyable and safest site possible is our club goal here on Sau rat own Mountain. The Alligator Rock I fang Glider Club is so named for the large rock that protrudes naturally beside our slope takcolT. Each pilot is afforded the option to launch from the concrete runway or shortcut grass. We petitioned the transportation department and were able to gc1 the road paved up to the launch site. Four t imcs a year the roadside is policed with a Lrash cleanup detail and with our club name arc erected on the mountain road. IJnlimitccl park"" and setup along my yard enables setup less than a hundred feel from launch. ntidcrticdown is available as well as ru II time storage for 1hosc wlto hate to haul them to and from the site. Our club pickup truck is available lo bring you hack if you visit without a driver. My wife Robbie has 16 years experience in driving for hang glidcrpilots and is the envy of many who arc not as fortunate 10 get one to fotch 'cm on a regular basis. l ,ocatcd in northwest North Carolina, Saurntown si1s among the gently rolling tobacco farms of Stokes County halfway between the city or Winston"Salcm and the: Virginia state line. Takeoff is I 00 rcct MSL with a 925foot vertical drop to the landing zone. The l ,Z is a grassy farm field about a football field wide and long enough to Janel a Piper Cuh in. Club 111cmbcrs mow it with a riding lawnmower 1o make it like landing on your front lawn. Anyone wanting to know more about our site may send a sci r addressed stamped envelope to me at my addrc:ss of 1hc Alligator Rock Jiang Glidc.r Club, c/o Tommy Thompson, Rt. I Box

27'1-Cl, Sau rat own Mountain Road, Wcslficld, North Carolina 2705:l. We offer a great looking f011r""color club Tct>shirt for ten bucks in which the proceeds are dona1cd to the local Saum town Mountain Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad and the Brenner Childrcn 's llospital in the nearby county. For mail orders indicate size and include two dollars for each shirt's mailing envelope and postage. Our club and si1e brochure describes all information from yearly and daily Clying fees 10 the directions to locate us. With the option lo land on lop or the ridge just a 111 ilc away, we arc in the bed of the pickup 10 able 10 set your take you hack to launch to rly again without breaking down and selling up again. claugh"" tcrCrystal is handy to help you get a hang check and son Jason is good at that ac1ion t akcoff plmto 011 launclt. We welcome parngl ickr pilots to fly effortless to our other a 3 to I glide away at tile base of the a place to soar and have fun in a safe atmosphere is 01ir overall goal. Expanding our membership and keeping a spirit of growth is a trend we encourage lo con1inuc and ensure ror a future. Just be a USI 10/\ member with a Jiang 11 rating who flies with a helmet and chute is our basic requirements to enjoy our site. l 'm trying to make a positive impact on our sport by doing something physically and not a lot of hot air. just blowing smoke and I'd like to sec act ion in the place ofpolilics in the IJSIIGA formats. Let us all become involved to promote our sport at a local level and make a positive impact in and around our comnrnnity and sites. I'd like to sec less red tape and good solid articlt:s and issues for the average recreational pilot in our magazine. Safety is an issue that should be first in all pilots' brain waves. So give a hoot and vote this time in your regional election. It only costs you the price or a postage stamp and we all know that a small number or return forms arc returned each election. Even if you don 'l vote for me, please vote for someone who al least cares enough to get on the ballot. Arter all, if tilings happen 110110 turn our exactly as you may have wanted, then at least you made an effort to be involved. If I could leave you with one last note for thought, it would be to those willt a desire to fly with wings among the clouds lo "KFEP ON THINKING TlllNKJNC. FREE!"

LEFT: The EZ exhibits a clean profile with the pilot stretched. BELOW: Totally relaxed profile. Note the CG adjustment where the main risers meet the slaves.

article and photos 1 by Pa gen

umankind docs not rest on its laurels or wallow in success. After we learned lo walk bipedally we went on to create fom·-wheelers. with buffalo chips and We started 0111 cook ended up with microwaves. After learning to beat rhythms on hollow we: dcve:lopcd rap music. Okay, okay, not all progress is improv(> mcnt, but the point is that we generally fumble around with technology until we come up with a finely functioning finished product. !\casein point is hang gliding lrnmcsscs. Back in the stone age when I started flying, I flew with a bikini harness. It was intended to he: an improvement in terms of security over thG popular swing scat. The beauty of the bikini was that you could fly prone as well as seated. While prone it helped to put your feet 011 the rear cables, and yo11 had to hold your torso np oil the basetubc:. My personal best was one hour in such a 1or1urc device. Contras I the bikini with today's pod enc lo·

!·I ANC GtmINC

LEFT: Parachute top closure with vclcro and a snap.

RIGMT: The EZ

has convenient above and below the parachute. Note !he abundant fastening holes the side.

This harness meets the standard for and egress. That means you get inlo it by stepping into the loops, slipping your arms into the shoulder straps like a vest, zipping up the chest area, then securing the parachute with two scat bcl I buckles. ln the air the closure of the boot is also standard; you grab a lab and pull. Getting out is the, reverse or this process. I found the takeoff and landing runs were easy with the EZ since the boot opening allows your legs plenty or freedom. Normally, with a harness that incorporates back plates or longitu-· dinal bars, the allachmcnt of the main risers behind the CG rcquin:s quite a bit or force to maintain an upright position. Some harnesses employ sliding systems to reduce this force (e.g., the CG I 000). The EZ attaches the leg straps directly to the main risers and the shoulder straps so that when you drop down into the leg straps you rest al a 45° angle from the horizontal.

BELOW: Three

straps.

s11rcs and marvel al our progress. To help confirm your impression, we arc pleased to present a review or the Blackhawk EZ harness.

The Blackhawk EZ harness comes from Blackhawk Industries loeated down under and over. That's New Zealand, a plaec where humans have taken to the air to fill the void left by flightless moas, kiwis ancl kakapos. Blackhawk has bt'.cn making harnesses for more than IO years, and their latest, the EZ, is slatc-ol'-the-art in the sense Iha! it incorporates back bracing, front entry, full pod cnclosme ancl a minimal number or lines. From the photos you can sec the basic setup. The main risers attach to two 11 /2--foot aluminum tubes that serve as lo11gil.lldinal spreader bars. These bars distribute the load

OcrrnmR l 992

!"ore and aft. The secret lo such a harness design is making sure the main risers arc attached behind the pilot's center of gravity, so that the harness lends to remain in the prone position. The front line then adjusts this position.

The EZ is adjustable. The spreader bars arc held in with a vclcro tab. You can pull them out and move the main risers forward and back to pcrkct the CG placement. Jit.irthcrmorc, the shoulder straps arc adjustable along with a stirrup in the boot so you can move your body fore and aft relative to the harness. This ad j11sting allows you to gel the forces lo settle as you like, and should be accomplished with a st al ic hang before flying. J\n in-flight adjustable shoulder line that runs through a jam cleat allows you to set and change your dangle angle. You can even set it to hold you in an upright position ii" you wish. The comfort of a harness of this type depends largely on the length of the spreaders or staves. The longer the staves, the more they 17

hold up your legs, but then you can't sit down in the harness during those long launch waits and you cannot fiddle with the boot in the air. The EZ staves end right below your hind end so you can sit down, but you also must push a little as with a stin-up harness to maintain a straight leg profile. In the photos you can see the profile totally relaxed and with a little push. The relaxed profile isn't all bad, for it's the perfect position to ease the pain of back sufferers. I find myselfthermaling relaxed and gliding with legs straight for minimum drag. Because of the leg push needed, I give the EZ a comfort rating of eight on the 10 scale. Note that the maximum I give any prone harness is a nine, since modern humans have evolved to the point where they are best suited to reclining in an easy chair while watching jiggle shows on TV. In addition, grommetted holes in the EZ boot allow you to add leg lines if you desire a comfort rating of nine.

EZ Safety One of the most important aspects of any harness design is its integrity. The EZ seems to pass muster as the manufacturer claims it handled the most the local machine could deliver: 3,500 kg (that's 7,700 lbs. or over 40 Gs). The aluminum staves will not withstand 40 Gs, of course, but are designed to gradually bend until the leg straps take up the load. The chest buckles are

BIiia:&~&

' :8 8 :

The EZ harness has a few highlights worthy of mention. First, there is a velcro and snap attachment at the top of the parachute to close up the gap and defeat drag. There is an ample pocket above the parachute and a ballast container below with a velcro pull and a zipper. I found this container to be ideal for storing the harness bag. Inside the harness are three separate zipper-closed compartments for carrying the myriad pads and bags that accompany many modern gliders. These internal compartments extend almost the whole length of the harness. The tabs on the ends of the pull strings are large and easy to handle. However, here I have a gripe. The closure one should stick to the harness with velcro. As it is, it sometimes gets tangled and flops around when the zipper is open (sometimes it takes a while to find enough peace after launch to zip up). Also, the opening tab should have a portion that extends past the velcro so it's easier to grab with mittens on. Finally, while I'm in the mood I should

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Details, Details

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rated at 10,000 lbs. The entire harness is sewn with type 5 chord (the best choice) and the leg straps are connected to the main risers and shoulder straps for a complete body enclosure. The zippers, webbing and harness body are all made from materials standard in the industry.

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Ball Proudly Announces The Model M22. The new standard for paragliding. Whether you compete or not, we'll help you be a soar winner. Comes with our standard 1 year warranty (void if submerged). See your local Ball dealer for details. For inquiries, call 1-800-729-2602 • Fax (303) 530-4836

mention that the shoulder rope seems way too thick for this application. The reason for such a harness design is to eliminate draggy lines. The purpose is defeated if the remaining lines are as fat as Oprah's ankles. These slight criticisms can be easily remedied. Perlon rope is readily available at outdoor stores. One of the nicest features is the series of parallel holes on the side of the harness. These grommetted holes are ideal for attaching an oxygen system, your pet cat or an anvil for those strong days. On the other side the harness sports a bungee aiTangement to hold a radio, water bottle or whatnot.

Getting One You can get your Blackhawk EZ from the U.S. distributor whose coordinates are: Silver Wings, Inc., 6032 North 20th St., Arlington, VA 22205 (703) 533-1965 or 533-3244. All the above detailed items are stock on the EZ and come at a retail price of $519.00. Special pockets or designs are available upon request for a fee. Delivery normally takes three weeks. If you are looking for a quality harness that's different from that of every other kid on the block, we suggest you strap into a Blackhawk EZ. You can still compete in the human race without one, but then, are you doing your share for progress? •

STANDARD EQUIPMENT • 1,000 ft. or 5 MIS VSI Scale • 1 ft. or 1 Meter ALT Increments (MSL) • RF Shielding • Relative Altitude • 5 Stage Vario Damping • Barometric Pressure (Hg or Hecto Pascal) • Adjustable Audio Threshold • Choice of Piezo Audio Sound: VARI-PITCH - BEEP INTERRUPT-VARI-BEEP • 4 Stage Averager • Mount (Velcro Strap, Steel Bracket, or Ball Clamp) OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT • Barograph with Flight Linker and Software • Total Energy (TE.) Probe SPECIFICATIONS • Operation Altitude - 2,000 ft. to 27,000 ft., 609 - 8225 Meters • Operation Temperature - 13 to 113 deg . Fahrenheit - 25 to 45 deg. Celsius WARRANTY • M22 flight computer and accessories are warranted for a period of 1 year from date of purchase (with proof of purchase via warranty card) or 1 year from date of manufacture (including software updates) Submersion In Water Voids Warranty. • Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice

M22 (Standard Model Shown) HANG GLIDING

FASCINATION

IN PERFECTION

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J1BRAUNIGER FLUG ELECTRONIC

USHGA REPORTS

Tentative Agenda 1992 Fall USHGA Board Of Directors Meeting

Lie

USHGA Board of Directors meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn in Milpitas, California on October 9-11. The tentative agenda topics for Committee and General Session discussions at this meeting are listed under the various committee headings. Agenda items are developed based upon Committee Chairpersons' suggestions, reader input, headquarters feedback and from can-yover action items.

Elections And Allocations Committee • Honorary Director Nominations • Officer Designation - Executive Director Position

Finance Committee Awards Committee • Cross-Country Awards Proposal • 1992 USHGA Awards Nominations

By-Laws Committee • Regional Director Job Description Review • Miscellaneous By-Law Changes

Competition Committee • USHGA Foundation Financial Report • Visiting Pilot Membership Program Update • Official USHGA Sanction Package Discussion • USHGA Record Kit Procedure - Record fees - Time requirements - Recognition Process • 1992 Pre-World Meet Report • 1993 World Meet - Plans/Protocol/ Financing • 1993 National Championship Site Selection • Discussion - Headquarters Role, 1993 World Meet

• 8/31/92 Financial Report • Preliminary 1993 Budget Proposal • Special Edition II -Ad Sales, Cost, Other Revenue • Functional Cost Accounting/Profitability Report as of 8/31/92 • Third Class Non-Profit Postage Rate Approval • Second Class Non-Profit Discount Postage Rate Application • 1991 Financial Year Audit Report Results • Amended Tax Filing Status: 1989-1991 • Trust Fund Proposal - To Address Future $ Needs

Insurance Committee • Director and Officer Liability Coverage Bid Selection • Regional Director Approval Requirements - New Chapters/Sites • 1992 Fatality Review • Long Term Employee Disability Proposal • Employee Group Insurance Rate Comparison Report • 1992 Liability Claims Report • USHGA Litigation Involvement - Case Status

National Coordinating Committee • GPS Use Update • Joint Airsport Organization Forum West Coast Site '95 - Separate Organization BOD Meetings • International Rating Card Update • California Spring FAI '94 Meeting Site USHGA Host Role • CIVL Alternate Appointment • Tandem/Towing Exemption Extension Approval

Membership And Development Committee USHGA Demographics, Growth, Lapse Rates, Processing Statistics • USHGA Hang Gliding Adventure Tour Service - Interest Level • Youth Membership Programs - How to Start/Encourage • Membership Complaint Report Feedback/ Discussion • Oshkosh '92 Report • Sun 'N Fun 1993 Participation/Discussion

Paragliding Committee • Paragliding Subscription Only - Set Subscription Rate • Recommend Development of a USHGA ICC Program • USHGA Paragliding Survey Response Discussion/Action Plan • Report on USHGA Paragliding Membership Pattern/Growth Rate • USHGA Paragliding Membership - Dues Increase Proposal

Planning Committee • Review of Five-Year Financial Plan Verses Actual Results • Review Progress on Five-Year Plan Action Items

HANG GLIDING

USHGA REPORTS Publications Committee

...

Editor's Report Report on Cost of House Advertising 1993 Display Ad Rate Increase Proposal 1992 Advertising Results/External Efforts

Safety And Training Committee

Tandem Committee

. . .

. Discuss Aero Tow Administrator Appointment Process . Should USHGA Issue Ratings for Aero Tug Pilots? If Not, Who? . Develop Specific Requirements for Issue of Aero Tug Rating . Change Aero Tow Rating to Aero Tug

Site Committee

.. . .

Discuss Revision of USHGA Rating Forms Revise Tandem Rating Format on Membership Carel Update Observer/Instructor Study Materials Establish Basis to Issue Additional Foreign Equivalency Ratings Develop New SOP to Define Basis for Administering ICP's Review the Need for Regional Director Listings of Personnel to Conduct ICP's

Towing Committee

Report on Safety and Training Actions/ Problem Resolutions

. . .

Site Procurement Manual Reaction Site Development, Maintenance, Retention - Status Update USHGA Site Funding Support - Pro/Con Local Site Issues/Resolutions

Rating to Eliminate Confusion With Pilot Under Tow

General Session

. . .

Discuss Tandem Hang Loop Requirement - Type 18 Material Review/Update Tandem, Tandem Instructor and Tandem Administrator Instruction Materials Clarify Tandem 1 Renewal Policy

By-Laws/SOP Change Proposal Discussion Women's Sports Federation Report Citizen Ambassador Program Invitation Russian Tour Discuss Ethics Policy Committee Audit Recommendation Select Fall '93 BOD Site

Hang Gliding Lesson #1 Fly hard, fly safe, fly with High Energy Sports To reduce risk of bodily injury or death while hang gliding you need a complete safety system. From your glider to your hang straps you need to know you have the best system for you. We at High Energy Sports specialize in harness-parachute systems designed for the worst circumstances.

Tow Systems for Hang Gliders and Paragliders

COCCOONS, PODS, PARACHUTES, etc. • Flat Circular Solid Gore Construction • Vent Cap Covering Apex Hole • 1/2" Tublar Nylon Reinforcement At Apex • All Seams Reinforced With Type ill Webbing • V-Tabs At Each Line Attachment • Type XVIII Bridle FAX (714) 972-1430 • Parachute Safety Lock System • Continuous Webbing Sewn With Five Corel Thread • Each Harness Custom Sized • Safety Back Strap • Adjustable Padded Leg Straps • Two-Week Delivery • Custom Options • Your Choice Of Colors

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"Steve and I both agree that it is The Best System we have seen. It is definitely the concept that makes the most sense." Roger Coxon Kitty Hawk Kites

• Designed to mount easily to truck, boat or trailer. • Driver controlled hydraulics with automatic pressure release. • Compatible with parachute line recovery methods. • Sold throughout the United States and Canada. Built to Last, TBT Tow Systems Feature: Steel Braided Hydraulic Lines, Heavy Duty Adjustable Electric Rewind Motor with Sealed Roller Bearings, and Aircraft Quality Aluminum, Steel and Hardware Throughout. Complete Kit $ 1GBS.OO!

TBT/Larry Keegan 1627 Kenwood Olathe, KS 66062 (913) 764-2991

($1595.00 Without Line) Includes 3/16" Low Drag Ultraline No Welding, Assembles with 21 Bolts Mounts to your platform with 4 Bolts

Kari Castle did when she became the first woman pilot in history to fly more than 200 miles on a hang glider. Larry Tudor did when he became the first hang glider pilot ever to fly more than 300 miles. Jim Lee , Randy Haney, Chris Arai , Judy Leden and other world class pilots do when they compete , or fly for world records. But more important than that, thousands of pilots all over the world count on us every time they fly , and for good reasons .

Performance Wills Wing gliders have set the performance standard at every level of flying for nearly twenty years. The unmatched competition and world record performance of the HP AT series is well known throughout the world , but Wills Wing also pioneered, and continues to specialize in providing accessible performance to the non competition pilot.The Wills Wing Spectrum - designed to provide true high performance to the advanced entry level and intermediate recreational pilot - has demonstrated 100 mile plus cross country performance . The Wills Wing Super Sport, our latest in a long line of high performance gliders that are easy and

fun to fly , provides advanced intermediate and expert level pilots with the performance they need to achieve their personal flying goals, while retaining the simple joy of flight that brought you to hang gliding in the first place.

Service If you purchased a glider in 1978, you might have done so from any one of eighteen U.S. manufacturers in business at that time. Today your choices are considerably more limited . But if you had purchased that glider from Wills Wing , you could still call us on the phone today and talk to the person who designed your glider. Other manufacturers have talked about having "the best service in the world" or "being in it for the long haul." And that's fine , talk is great, but the fact is that only one manufacturer has continuously provided consistent service to the hang gliding community for nearly twenty years - Wills Wing . Most Wills Wing pilots today are on their third or fourth Wills Wing glider; some are on the ninth or tenth . Product loyalty like that results from one thing - consistent, dependable service . We want to build your next glider.

1208 H. East Walnut • Santa Ana • CA • 92701 • Phone (7 14) 547 1344 • FAX (7 14) 547 0972

Dealer Inquiries Invited

COMPETITION

CORNER

1992 Cross Country Classic International Individual Place Pilot 1) John Pendry 2) Tomas Suchanek 3) Carl Braden 4) Chris Arai 5) Brad Koji 6) Robin Hamilton 7) Mark Gibson 8) Jim Lee 9) Nelson Howe 10) Dave Sharp 11) Manfred Ruhmer 12) Bob Baier 13) Larry Tudor 14) Christian Voiblet 15) Robin Rhodes 16) Marco Guenther 17) Bruce Goldsmith 18) Karsten Gaebert 19) Steve Blenkinsop 20) Sepp Singhammer

Glider Airwave K4 Moyes XS Foil Combat WWHPAT WWHPAT Airwave K4 WW HP AT 145 WWHPAT Foil Combat UPTRX Icaro Brasil Foil Combat WWHPAT Icaro Brazil Rumour II Icaro Brazil Airwave K2 Foil 152c Rumour II Moyes XS

1992 Chelan Cross Country Classic

by Lenny Baron L1e meet was held July 7-12 at Chelan Butte in Central Washington State. This year's Classic was the 13th annual, and once again proved the following equation: Chelan Butte + July + Airtime = FUN This year's event was generated over $1,000 for ALS Support Services of Washington. Three days of rain magically cleared up just in time for Day 1. Of the six competition days, five allowed decent cross-country flights. The 43 pilots made up the most talented X-C Classic field ever seen. Pilots came from as far away as New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Ontario (Canada) and California. Eighteen pilots were Washingtonians. The winner, Kevin Caldwell, was able to j complete big triangles for multipliers on each OCTOBER 1992

Team Place Team 1) USA 2) GB Horny Toads 3) Aussie A 4) Germany A 5) Good Old Times 6) Switzerland A 7) UXA 8) Racing Snakes 9) Germany B 10) France Ayrault 11) Canada Red 12) Japan 13) Dirty Wombats 14) Switzerland B 15) USA Green 16) ldi's Meanies 17) Mexico/Colombia 18) Israel 19) Switzerland C 20) Australia Numbat

Team GB Horny Toads Good Old Times Aussie A USA USA GB Horny Toads UXA USA USA UXA Good Old Times Germany A USA Switzerland A Racing Snakes Switzerland A GB Horny Toads Ge1many Aussie A Germany B

of his four scored flights. The longest triangle of the meet was 75 miles by second place finisher Randy Adams on Day 3. At least five pilots also flew straight-line personal bests on Day 3. The longest flight was 152 miles by Paul Gallagher almost to Pullman, Washington. (My home town. -Ed.) Paul's flight was the third furthest ever from the Butte.•

Final Results Place Pilot 1) Kevin Caldwell 2) Randy Adams 3) Larry Jorgensen 4) Gerry Uchytil 5) Mark Tulloch 6) J.C. Hauchecorne Mike Daily 7) 8) Roger Nelson 9) John Pitt 10) Dave Little 11) Lionell Space 12) Paul Gallagher 13) Kevin O'Brien 14) Doug Johnson 15) Lee Fisher

Score 3818 3695 3586 3255 3235 3145 3126 3111 2676 2513 2278 2180 2172 1995 1947

16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24) 25) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) 43) 43)

Michael Schulte Eric Troili Daniel Uchytil David Legget David Lindberg Davis Straub Bob McKenzie Jeff Bowman Jim Fenison Collette Carson Ray Wolf Bill Jolly Barbara Kramer Dave Mazzola Gus Johnson Doug Koch Ron Bennett Ben Davidson Konrad Kurp Bob Newbrook Jon Dawkins Richard Ouellet Gene Matthews Hurst Kern Rob Johnson Alegra Davidson C. J. Sturtevant (Tie) Kamron Blevins (Tie) Matt Cm

1933 1809 1722 1622 1520 1513 1454 1414 1394 1356 1301 1237 1222 1203 l 106 1053 1023 960 812 765 336 261 255 234 228 224 184 0 0

I spo11ed a glider climbing oul over the peak of lhc bowl approximately 800 higher limn I, and flew over lo find the he was coring. I entered lhc thermal in the same direction as pilot above. I climbed out at around 200 in smoolh air for some time, noting no gliders in view around me. Al lhis point was above 9,000 reel and well over lhc top

crunch! Immediately my world crnzy. I began what I perceived lo be a lumble and spin. I could sec only a blur ground rushing up. Truth being stranger fiction, I did not panic (not yet any·· I waited about 1hrcc seconds to be sure had cleared the other gl idcr, reached back my lcfl arm and pulled the handle or my BRS rocket. There was an

by there I was ... thought I was gonna die' jus1 knew I hacl to say i1 ! Moun1 Seven is a world -class hang and paragliding site loea1ccl in British Columbia. The town is al 1hc north end or a valley which the Canadian Rockies south 10 the border. A world record flight of 202 was set from Ml. Seven in I987 Haney. Fly Wcs1 Ilang (rliding from Calgary their annual cross--country camp in during the last week of July. This low airtime pilo1s a chance to yak at sky--gods a11d maybe pick up a few on how lo fly down the valley. This the cvcn1 which brought me 10 town. The rirs1 fow days at the camp were wa1ching beer clouds overhead (good bu1 1101 so good for rlying) and to stay dry. The weather finally and Thursday turned ou1 to be an

excellent distance day. I managed lo gel a mile flight on my very first atlempt going X-C. Life was good' On Friday I opted for an evening flight and launched al 6:30 into reasonably strong CJOO fpm up) and bumpy condilions. /\boul mimllcs later I found myself near the end of a howl at lhc lop of ML Scvc,n at around 8,400 feel. A rc~w frustrating minutes or scralching convinced me to look for lil't.

inflated about a second arter he heard rocket rirc. Now the fun(?) began. The glider and pod began lo violcn1ly spin abou1 each . I experienced some incredible C, forces what seemed like four or five spins. This slowed enough to allow me an view of lhc up-rushing ground. I was so disoriented at this point that I not sure if lhe 'chute had opened or had entangled in the glider wreckage. to say, some very tense momcnls I was able lo reach up be;hind me both arms and grab bils of aluminum for few seconds before more spinning began 1hcy ripped out of my hands.

HANC G1.m1Nc;

/ ACCIDENT REPORTS I now found myself facing sky and could see the other glider above me under canopy. Finally, looking directly up I saw my parachute (unbelievable sigh of relief). Hooray! I could not tell my altitude or rate of descent but the rocks were definitely looking bigger. I managed to unzip my pod and waited. I hit the ground in what seemed a short time later and managed to pick the only large rock around as a back cushion. After lying still several minutes and ensuring I could move all my extremities, I crawled out of the pod and out from underneath the glider. The other pilot had come down in a small gully about 150 yards away and we slowly made (staggered) our way to the top of a knoll where a helicopter retrieved us a short time later.

Mountain Recap The other pilot told me he had not seen my glider until we were very close. He was above and behind me so I did not see him approaching. The pilot decided to decrease the radius of his turn to cut inside mine and then scoot away. Two aerial witnesses said that either the glider fell out of the lift or more likely ended up in a slipping turn which clove the glider onto mine. My right leading edge was struck by the other glider's left leading edge and both wings broke apart in the air. I later estimated we had fallen about 2,000 feet to where the gliders hit the mountain. An examination of my glider (wreckage) later confirmed my belief that the right wing collapsed after the impact while the left side basically retained its shape. I assume that this wing tried to fly on the way clown resulting in the high spin rate I felt. Other observers were able to confinn this impression. The pilot who observed the collision from the air also noted that it appeared as though my canopy lines had spun up about 25% of their length before impact (you betcha I'm getting a paraswivel). Although I suffered no breaks or fractures I am convinced a fully open 'chute would have saved my back some pain. I am totally convinced that my BRS rocket saved my life. The other pilot came clown with very little spin. He had the classic view of half sky and half dark ground. This left him with no doubt as to where to throw OCTOBER 1992

his hand deployed 'chute. Witnesses said that the 'chute hung above the glider for a few seconds before it finally inflated. I'm glad we had enough altitude so that his 'chute had time to open.

None If By Hand As for me, the high-speed spinning of the glider left me unable to determine any direction or bearing. I do not believe I would have been able to successfully deploy a handthrown 'chute. Luckily, I did not have to make that choice and the successful rocket deployment speaks for itself. I had seven launches and six controlled landings with what used to be my new glider. However, aluminum and dacron can always be replaced, so I can't complain about the encl result. After all, I'm still here to complain! Many thanks to Larry Strom at Spokane Air Craft for installing my BRS unit and doing a fine 'chute packing job! My thanks also to the Golden RCMP and all the pilots who helped out including Eric Odcly and Jeff Runciman. Obviously, my indebtedness to the folks at BRS is immeasurable! I can't express my gratitude in full except to say "Thank You" for designing and manufacturing a truly exceptional product! You can be sure I will never fly without one! •

Accident Review by Doug Hildreth Fatalities Phillip SIDNER. Improper hook-in, last month's issue. Frank HUNGERFORD, Owens (CA). Crashed in canyon, no infonnation.

Pilot: Age: Rating: Experience: Glider: Date: Location: Injuries:

Roland ROTTENSTETNER 24 Advanced? (Italy) Two years? Wills Wing HP AT 158 7/15/92 Little Black Mtn., San Diego, CA Fatal: head, neck

Event: Advanced-rated Italian pilot who flies a Sport just arrived in U.S. and borrowed HP AT and knee hanger harness. Good launch, VG off, into smooth conditions, and immediately pulled in bar to knees and began a series of pilot-induced oscillations culminating in a 120-clegree roll and crash into the hill within five seconds of launch. Died instantly. Reasons for his actions are "baffling."

Pilot: Age: Rating: Experience: Glider: Date: Location: Injuries:

Brad RYPCHINSKI

31 Non-member Limited. Self-taught? Pac Air Mark IV May 3, 1992 Soboba, CA Massive internal?

Event: Launched and flew out toward house thermal. Question of enatic control. Apparently flew into the thermal, which turned him back toward the hill, from which he was unable to recover. Downwind crash into the hill. CPR unsuccessful.

Pilot: Age: Rating: Experience: Glider: Date: Location: Injuries:

Jessica WRIGHT ? ? ? ? July 29, 1992 Telluride, CO Fatal

Event: Two pilots launched into normal mellow conditions. While in the air, strong gust front came though with winds 40-50 mph and severe turbulence. Other pilot landed safely but Jessica crashed while attempting to land at the golf course. continues ...

ACCIDENT REPORTS This makes five (5) fatalities so far for 1992.

Event: Event: Event: Event:

Flew into a tree. Flew into power lines. Flew into a boat. Flew into a glider. Three

midairs. I launched and flew along the ridge. Saw another glider coming out of a turn and approaching. There is no way he does not see me. I can't get any closer to the ridge to avoid him, but surely he'll turn away. He keeps closing and does not see me until he collides with me. I fly my damaged glider to the LZ, and land safely. The other pilot's frayed wire slowly unravels, glider folds and drops into the trees. Hand deployed chute never quite inflated. Moderate extremity injuries.

I launched and flew straight out. There was one glider ahead, above and to my right. The gaggle was to the left, and because the other pilot was fairly close, I waited for him to turn into the thermal. He kept flying straight, giving no indication of turning, so I banked to the left to enter the gaggle. The other pilot then turned sharply and flew into me. I threw my chute and landed unharmed. The other pilot broke his leg. I had left the mountain and was heading out to the LZ. I was aware of another glider three or four wing spans to my right. It seemed that he was looking at me so I assumed that he saw me. We hit a bit of light lift, I looked left to clear my tum and when I looked forward again, he had turned and was about to collide. He had not seen me at all. We both flew our damaged gliders to the LZ. •

Deployment Failure by Butch Peachy Thursday, August 20, 1992 - It was a difficult climb-out at Horse Canyon in Southern California in a prevailing northwest wind. When I was at seven grand I caught a thermal registering 700-1,300 up and took it to 10,600 about two miles east of the south bowl. There was a solid line of towering cumies going straight north past Laguna, Granite and beyond. My airspeed was between 35 and 40 mph and I wasn't losing much altitude. I was intentionally staying on the western edge of the cloud street and 1,500-2,000 feet below cloudbase to avoid being sucked up in the clouds. After three thermals I was over Kwaami Point (Laguna launch) and worked a smooth 300 up to lOK again. I had just put my hands in my bar mitts while gliding straight when the nose of the glider suddenly pitched down and under me. I watched my fingertips slip out of the mitts as a result of the heavy G forces from being flipped upside-down and heard a CRUNCH26

SNAP! A second later I was right side up hearing wind noise, breaking, snapping and tearing sounds. I was looking down and saw NO control frame. I started to spin. Without looking for the handle I quickly threw my chute. When Betty Pfeiffer gives a parachute repacking seminar each spring at our club meeting, many pilots practice deploying a parachute in a simulator. Most times I have practiced it almost required two hands to rip the velcro and throw the chute. In my moment ofneecl I deployed quickly and easily. A few seconds later I was still spinning and looking clown. I couldn't believe my eyes! The red parachute was dangling below me with the apex pointed clown! After almost 19 years of flying hang gliders I'd never had to throw a chute. Now when I clicl, it didn't work. I was pissed. I staitecl to haul the 'chute back in to redeploy it. When I got close to the shroud lines, the canopy caught air and wrapped up in the spinning wreckage. At this point my harness suspension strap, camera

leash and parachute bridle entangled and immobilized my entire right arm in the spinning wreckage. I looked over to my right hand to use my push-to-talk. Of course it was gone, and I couldn't even tell anyone that I was in big trouble, my location, or goodbye. I thought, "So this is what it's like when you die. Alone." Sometimes the air noise would increase. I was pulling a lot of G's with my body on the outside of the spin. I kept ttying to reach up with my left hand and hold a piece of 'chute out so it could partially inflate and I could be centered in the whirling mess. This also helped to keep me from blacking out. Everything went from blurry blue to blurry brown. I thought about unzipping my harness, but the spinning and airspeed radically increased when the 'chute wasn't being held open. My lower body was the first thing to hit the rocks. I was conscious. "I'M STILL ALIVE!!!" I shouted twice. Looking back on all that happened that day, many thoughts continue to spin in my mind. What happened to the glider and the deployment? When I fell into the apex of the downtubes they both broke. When the glider righted itself there was no lower wire support. The wings folded upward, blowing the crossbar through the top center of the sail. The keel blew down through the bottom center of the sail, breaking at the center point between the front and rear wires. One wing remained intact and created an unstable spin. The glider probably flipped over as a result of a microburst. I was flying with a relaxed grip on the control bar to feel the subtleties of the air, but a microburst from a cloud street starting to tower is not subtle, and in my case there was no pre-turbulent warning. The tuning of my glider could have exacerbated the situation. After a conversation with Dennis Fagen about different batten airfoil shapes he uses on his Moyes XS, I experimented with different camber at midspan and the tips. Another possible contributing factor was that I lowered my tip washout to lighten bar pressure. Then to compensate for the higher trim speed I hung off the keel. The keel hang point was further back than the stock CG setting. By now, glider designers are raising their eyebrows and saying, "No wonder the glider flipped over." Since my accident I've had conversaHANG GLIDING

response of the U.S. Forest Service and their fire 1111its, as well as the Laguna Volunteer Vire Dept., Clll', Lit'c Flight, Sheriff's ground unit, and the Sheriff's helicopter, which would have enabled me to receive prompt emergency medical care if' it had been necessary. I appreciate the helicopter ride the Sheriff insisted on me across the canyon to Lag1111a launch where my retrieve met me. Thanks again 10 a Harn radio operator named Mike who relayed my position to my retrieve. I appreciate al I the help my buddies gave me during the two days of' hauling my glider out through high brush: Floyd J!ronius, Mike Sandlin, Steve Kirschvink, Kevin Lamlcl, Glen Volk and Don .Jacobsen. Thanks to Scott Weiner and Ken Paster for provisions. I also appreciated the many phone calls from people concern and opinions. fily high and land safe. Ill

tions with Monte Bell of UP, Eric Raymond

or Ultrnlight Soaring Software, and Kamron Blevins or i\Sl. all iold me about "slatic margin." The kincrn;11ic chain ol' increased camber, reduced twisl, and aft add up to a glider beyond certified configuration. sal'cty Basically, I compromised the for increased performance. The lesson learned is that if you cl011 't have your own test leave the glider stock. I should have taken more lime to throw my "chute in the direction of the spin, but if I had waited any longer the G forces might have built up so much I hat I wouldn't have been able to reach my cl1csl. ii' l had had a rnckel ii would have sent the 'chute out to catch air, if it didn't fire down. I talked to Rich Pfeiffer about redeploy a hanging "chute. Rich said lha! redeploy"" currently taught, Ihis needs to be rethought. we nc(;el to fly with two 'chutes, or even three. with two Free Flight I'm now pull clown apex parachutes and a prototype pneumatic rocket from Second :Jiant:r. J'II goto

parachutes that reduce size and weight by 45'/i,. I ended up on the side of a cliff to the south of Laguna launch. When my retrieve, Don and Sheryl Jacobsen, arrived on the scrnc they did11 't have a clear idea of what had happened and wondered why I had chosen lo land where I did. Well, to quote (ilen Volk, '"If you stop having f'lln, land!" Thanks for all the help from Don and rn1 the'. day of the crash. Two specta" and Miles, witnessed my glider spinning down and crashing into the rncks. promptly called 911 and reporled a hang just get killed. (Yes, my hang

i\fier talking lo Gary /)ouri.1· o/'Free Flight I became convinced, and agree with Gary, that the /Jes/ rnethod lo fry to i11/1ale a parachute that has complete line and bridle sire/ch is to vigoro1tsly pull on the hridlc in a pumping motion, hut not to pull !he chute tow11rd the glider where ii can po.1sii>ly become tangled. If' the chute did not clear the glider, the original method of'pulling the chute completely in and a/tempting lo redeploy ii is still the hes/ procedtll"C lo

jr)/low. Rich f'fi:ifli:r lligh l':t1crgy Sports

by n Wednesday evening, al approximately 5:30 PM, July 29, l 992, the USHGA showed up in force al Oshkosh. Om call for help produced a hetterresponsc this year, and a conplc of new faces llrnt day were Cm! Stahlberg and Bob Coffman. Familiar ones were Sco11, Ann and Ian Lesne1, and Jake Hauser. Gclting righ11o work seuing up camp and localing our booth area was a high priority. All those faces were a welcome sigh1 as we readied ourselves for the next seven days of enlighten· ing voluntcerism. Meetings started that evening with officials to secure a time slo1 for towing. That's where I spent most or my time.

First we rnet with Art Greenfield (from the NAA) at our booth area and sel up the hang gliding simulator. As a crew handled that, I proct:cdcd to a!lcnd more mcelings to secure time slols for Friday's towing. Time slots given lo us were 7:00 AM and 12:00 noon on lhc main runway, and 2:30 PM in the ultralight area. Our three pilots had to al!cnd a pilot brief. ing every morning at 6:30. Any pilol flying that day had to attend and get a briefing care!. The

officials who remembered us from last year helped our cffor1s this year. About 4:00 PM, Jerry Bruning (USHGA Exc:cutivc Director) and Jeff Elgart (om mar· kc1ing and advertising dircc1or) arrived at !he booth. With the booth closing al 5:00 PM, we returned to camp for much needed res! and rclaxat ion. That evening our camp grew somcwha1 with the arrival of John Heiney, Bill Bryden, Beth Ann Miller, Jay Darling, and Julie and Jamie Stahlberg.

HANC GI.Ji )]NC

Friday morning greeted us with crosswinds, We allendcd the pilot briefing and set up forom first tow at 7:00 AM 011 the main runway, with Scolt at the helm, I le launched and gained about 200 feel when he was turned 45° or so by !he crosswind, lle was forced lo release but his landing was textbook, The tower offered us more time to try again, but alkr much discussion we opted not to fly, Above all else, had to come first, We passed on the noon slot because of the continuing crosswinds, but by 2:30PM Ilic winds were coming right down the runway in the 1iltralight area, Pilots Scott and Bill did a fine job towing, and the demonstration was a Sllcccss,

With similar weather conditions om towing was limited, but we welcomed a few more new faces to our crew, Showing 11p in !he ultralight area were Bill and Molly Moyes, Bobbie and Connie Bailey, and Phil Proc1or,

The winds were still somewhat cross, hut the morning saw Bill and John flying over the main runway, By noon the winds had picked up somewhat, so we did a dcrnonstrntion of hand towing wilh John Heiney on !he main runway, The crowd was surprised that "people power" could launch a hang glider, John flew aboul 150 feet al an altitmfo or 15,20 fccL As a result or increasingly strong wind conditions we op1cd not 10 rJy al 2:30 that af1crnoon, A hang glider pilot's eye view of the display area, Compare the wing span of Bill Bryden's hang glider to that of the powered aircraft, I'holo by John Heiney,

Again I started my morning with pilot briefings, asking for and receiving permission for John to do an acrobatic dc111011strntion al 7:00 AM, His static tow was to 2,200 feet, and upon release he looped and wangccl his way down with smoke trailing from his glider, The officials were amazed al the capabilities both John and his aircraf'L

OcTOBER 1992

Scott was up next lo fly, He was a bi! concerned lhat John would be a hard act to follow, but he dicl a fine job flying as wcl L The noon slot was closed due to incoming air traffic, Our 2:30 demonstration in the uhralight area was one of om best ever, Bill Bryden aerotowed firs!, released at 300 feet and main taincd for five minutes, John, not to be outdone,

aerotowed to 300 feel, maintained for five minutes, then proceeded to climb to 400-450 feet, maintaining for five more minutes, Our announcer, Frank Beagle,, had John talk over the PA system by rndio, explaining what he was doing and how he was staying 11p, Frank then announced !ha! there would be silence, as all stood and watched John's silent flighL All eyes 29

were on John, with 1101 a word being spoken. But the end was inevitable. The main airshow was about to begin and John had lo come down, even though he contd have stayed 11p longer. Ile received a warm round of ap· plausc upon landing.

and this time we requested was a very touchy subject, since ii was at· tempted some years ago amt a pilot crashed. our low go1 off fine, with John again doing his acrobatics dcmonstnition while I nar· rated in the fly-by lower for the cameraman. John was ngain at the helm a1 noon on the main runway, with his acrobatics being oh· served more than 20,000 spect,11ors. It was a womkrful sight to sec. Again at 2:30 we were hack in the ultralight area with Bill and Phil aero1owi11g.

We opened on !he main runway with Scott and Bill doing a fincjoh. Noon saw Bill in 1he pilot's harness again. With constant piloH<Hlriver lransmission being broadcast, Bill asked !he crowd to smile on the count of three so he could lake their pictmc. I le finished with a nice land· ing in front of the crowd.

An enthusiastic young spectator gets a ride in the simulatm. Photo by Jeff Elgart.

All in all, I feel a great job was done hy all aHcncling Oshkosh '92. We demonstrated four forms of lowing, and had up to I 'i people working 1ogc1hcr to achiGvc the success we hoped ror. I would like lo thank Wills Wing, Moyes,

Pacific Airwave, Scqua1chic Valley Soaring, Lookout Mounlain Flight Park, and Raven Sports for their support or our efforts. To all of you who camped and helped, words cannot express my 1hanks and nppreciation. Till next year. rly safe. Ill

by feff Flying was cancelled because of the heavy trallic leaving the fly-in. A few opportunities rcsuhing from om presence al Oshkosh were: I) John I leincy was offered and all-cxpcnsc·paid trip lo Venezuela to do acrnha1ics. 2) We were invited lo do a dcmonslrntion al 1hc Copper Stale Fly-ln, the Soulhwcst's largGst rly"-in held in Prescott, Ari-" zona. ::I) Sun N' Fun, Lakeland, Florida invi1cd our group to parlicipatc there in April of next year. In January I will begin again to work on Oshkosh '9'.l. 11 is a lot of work and creates some headaches, but I want lo sec hang gliding gel the respGet it has long descrvGd.

thing's goin' to land here!" We even on the EAA grounds five minwhen a 747 jumbo buzzed the field, up final approach. All anybody could was this thunderous roar as I caught a or a kangaroo on the tail. So this is Due to the great air fare wars we found chcapGr to rty from Colorado Springs 1han drive. So when Rod Hauser pulled through on his way to Oshkosh, we loaded (and mean loaded) up his truck and camper with astonishing number of boxes containing propaganda, merchandise and vari-

ous camping necessities. Camping!? My idea of roughing staying at the Red Roof Inn ins1cad of Hyatt, and having to actually walk to 1he for my pifia colada instead of being on. Elaine, my wife, was a bit co1ncc:rncd, " ... but you hate camping, Jeff," she said explained my plan of action. Rod rct1ss'L1rC'.Cl me that there was p!Gnty of room in his 11p camper, but past experience "rr,01111in1~;'' with Jerry Bruning, Executive lJSHGA and charter member of the that bringing To-Die Club, own tel11 would be a wise move.

IIANC: G1m1Nc

John Ballantine (Executive Director of the Ultralight Association) picked Jerry and me up in Milwaukee and shuttled us to the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association, the host of the Oshkosh Airshow) and right to our booth. The volunteers - those brave souls who donated a tremendous amount of time and energy for the good of hang gliding were already in the process of setting up the booth. The simulator, that famous clear-wing Pacific Airwave Kiss, was suspended from a strategically angled telephone pole with massive Ringling Brothers tent stakes. I'm glad I missed the ordeal of setting that monster up. The EAA Airshow is an amazing thing. If you 're interested in any type of aviation this is definitely the place to be. More than a million people supposedly visited the weeklong airshow this year. Anything and everything was here: aircraft of all sizes, from CS Galaxies and Harrier jets (talk about a low stall speed) to some of the most amazing looking ultralights I' cl ever seen. (I was never very interested in them until I attended this show. There were some absolutely beautiful machines to gawk at and drool over, stimulating my desire to fly one. Just what I need, another expensive hobby.) And, of course, there were hang gliders. Our days started early. If you wcren 'tup by 6:00 AM you missed the boat. I won't elaborate too much on the actual flying, but we were static towing in the ultralight area by 7:00 AM, thanks to those early bird pilots Bill Bryden (Indiana), Scott Lesnet (Region 7 Director from Iowa), and tow master Roel Hauser, USHGA'sjuggemaut with the EAA. Limited to a 300-foot ceiling, these sled rnns were hardly worthy of a logbook entry, but were monumental steps in dealing with and impressing the EAA and FAA officials, who eventually granted official runway clearance for some real towing later in the week. Being on the EAA grounds that early every morning offered us the special treat of hearing the EAA reveille being pumped through every loudspeaker in the complex. Reveille began with a loud air-raid siren cranking up, which was followed by an "old-timer's" live, offkey rendition of the song of his choice. The one I unfortunately remember is "Waltzing Matilda," complete with yodelling. I tell ya, this was a crazy place. Booth volunteers Ann Les net, Beth Ann

0CTOI3ER 1992

Miller and JeITy Bruning fielded questions and hawked merchandise to the masses, while Curt Stahlberg and I loaded about 400,000 people into the simulator during the week. Curt shou Id be commended for allowing tons of human flesh to climb in and out of his pod harness over the course of the event. Thankfully nobody cleciclecl to hand-deploy his reserve while suspended in the simulator. We had Scott Lesnet's old knee-hanger harness for the children, but unlike local airshows I've worked in the past, it was mostly adults who took the tethered and suspended PacAir for a ride. Also, unlike the usual "mall" crowd, everybody here was aviation inclined, so there were some interesting questions in addition to the usual, "How much does it cost, weigh, take to fly ... ?" Merchandising was tough at Oshkosh, since in every single tent someone was selling a version of an Oshkosh T-shirt. Our merchandise scouts Ian Lesnet and Jake Hauser gave us daily reports on the competition and who was giving out what freebies. There was a huge section called the "fly" market, which contained everything from used aircraft parts to leather jackets and junk souvenirs (and T-shirts, plenty of T-shirts). Yes, merchandising was very competitive here, but we handed out plenty of brochures and posters! Camping was a lot easier than I had anticipated. We ate phenomenally well, and every night was spent reviewing videos of the clay's towing action (thanks to Bill Bryden) while engaging in profound discussions about the future of hang gliding over well deserved PBR's. Camp USHGA grew each clay, as John "loop" Heiney pitched his tent with us (more about John later), then Jay Darling (of Great Lakes Hang Gliding School fame, in Michigan) pitched his tent, but was never there to sleep in it as he was accompanying the Moyes entourage. (Jay's Dragonfly was used for some smooth aerotowing demos on the main runway later in the week. It was my first opportunity to witness aerotowing in person, and I coulcln 't believe how graceful it looked.) Bob Ellison and Cami Rouse (more ho osiers) joined us after searching for Bill Bryden for two clays (the campgrounds are fairly large). Cami provided live musical entertainment with her daily violin practice sessions. And I won't forget our activity

director/guacamole maker Bob Coffman. Bob, a California pilot, is 70 years young, a competition water-skier, windsurfer and hang glider pilot, and the proud owner of a new Wills Wing Spectrum. He infonnecl us of all the other EAA activities going on, and pointed out interesting displays he'd discovered throughout the day that were tucked in various corners of the complex. The hang gliding simulator action slowed clown every afternoon during the daily airshow. F-15 fighter jets buzzed by and B-52's dropped fake (but still loud) bombs, making it very difficult to communicate. USHGA's Tennessee delegation Bruce Hawk (of Hawk Airs ports and Winclsok fame) and Jeff Laughrey- finished out the week as volunteers at the USHGA booth. Bruce was practically giving Hang I lessons, and probably would have if we had had a training hill. Whenever J effLaughrey pulled a shift with the simulator all the beautiful women appeared, which clidn 't do a whole lot for my now sunburnt ego as I was taking a break. There are a lot of "thank-you's" due a lot of people involved in this annual event. First, to Roel Hauser, for his liaison role between the USHGA,EAAand FAA. Thanks to John Heiney for his usual spectacular airshow aerobatics. Notto be overshadowed, thanks are due Bill Bryden and Scott Lesnet for demonstrating static line towing for the crowd. Thanks go to Curt Stahlberg, who willingly gave up his Oshkosh airtime to help with the simulator, and whose wife and child, Julie and Jamie, came to visit him and were ·'volunteered" before they knew it. Thanks to the EAA for putting on such a great event, and a special thanks to the real unsung heros of Oshkosh, the Port-0-Let guys, who had their work cut out for them and were constantly on the move. Last, but certainly not least, a big thanks to all the "booth people." I hope I've mentioned everyone who helped out, and want to say with sincere appreciation, "I coulcln 't have clone it without you." Ann Lesnet's accounting of sales and funds received should qualify her for the task of balancing the federal budget. Thanks all. I look forward to it again next year.•

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TOP RTCHT: Hobbs Industrial Air Park as seen from the air. This was the site of Lany Tudor's fomous 303-mile flight to Elkhart, Kansas. Photo by Rob Richardson. RIGHT: The author gets a ride. Hobbs, New Mexico is the home of the of America (SSA).

obbs should be a familiar name to anyone inlcrcstcd in sport aviation. Larry Tudor's record-breaking 303-milc flight to lilkharl, Kansas originated here, as well as many 250+ mile hang glider nights. The SSJ\ and NSF arc both headquarlcred here, and sailplane meets arc commonplace. Located in southeast New Mexico, from I lobbs there is nothing but.f/al for OCTOBER l 992

by Rob Richardson

as far as one can sec in any direction. X-C takes on a whole different feeling when there arc no mountains to get in the way and LZ's arc ahun-dant, so long nights arc possible even when cloudhasc is low. The Air Park is primarily a sailplane port, but Curt nrnham and the Rio nrandc Soaring Association (RGSJ\) have ncgot iatcd and leased some land at the park, thus opening the site to qualified hang glider and paraglidcr pilots. Remember that this site is an airport, and we're therefore sharing it with sailplanes and powered planes. I suppose I should say that they' re sharing it with us, since they were here first and

possess the most political clou1. Flying here as "low man on the lotcm pole" is certainly humbling, and a hang glider pilot a whole new perspective on the hang glider versus paraglidcr wars going on at some sites. For the record, I didn't hear any of the "you fly too slowly in my thermals" sorts of complaints from the sailplane pilots. Because this is an airport, aircraft radios arc required to allow the driver and/or pilot to talk to the other aircraft. Don't worry if you don't have one, since Curt will rent you his for a nominal fcG. In a pinch, one radio could even support several tow vehicles.

Site Info - Hobbs, New Mexico

SITE NAME

Hobbs Industrial Air Park

CHAPTER

Rio Grande Soaring Association (RGSA) c/o Tom West, President !31419thStreet Alamogordo, NM 88310

LOCATION

North end of Hobbs. Take Highway 18 south from Lovington, and turn right at 18th street (there will be small signs for the NSF and Ocotillo Golf Course). Head SW on 18th past the golf course on your left and campground on your right. Keep going straight into the Air Park (you'll see signs that say "No Driving on Runways") and turn right, hugging the right side of the runway to stay out of the way. The NSF building is on your right.

ALTITUDE

3,600' MSL, O' AGL.

RATING

Advanced (Hang IV). Paraglider pilots - Class II. Novice (Hang II), lntennediate (Hang III) and Class I pilots may fly only during early morning and late evening smooth conditions.

PROTOCOL

All flights must be announced on 123.30 (AM aircraft frequency), including announcing when the tow rope is in. Every pilot must be a current USHGA member with liability insurance-even paragliderpilots. APA membership is cunently being negotiated.

RESTRICTIONS

The south edge of the air park is barely out of the control zone for the Lea County Regional Airport. Fortunately, the winds are usually from the south.

FEES

Full membership - $20/year. Includes a periodic newsletter and use of all sites administered by the ROSA. This is a real bargain, as the RGSA administers a lot of sites! There are no fees for visiting pilots at this time.

LAUNCH

Four runways with four parallel taxiways, 7,000'-8,000' long.

DIRECTION

The four rnnways accommodate virtually any wind direction.

SETUP AREA

Lots of room for hundreds of gliders in the grassy areas between the runways and taxiways. Room for 6-8 gliders right next to the NSF buildings.

ROAD

Roads to the flight park are all paved, and all of the nm ways are paved with lots of grassy cracks in them. No problem driving at 30+ mph.

CAMPING

Limited free camping is allowed on the RGSA leased land, and reasonably-priced camping is available at Ocotillo Park across the street. There are also RV spaces next to the Air Park, but Ocotillo Park is much prettier and roughly the same price.

X-C

Excellent. The site record is also the current world record for both open distance and distance to a declared goal (303 miles to Elkhart, Kansas by Larry Tudor).

EVENTS

Hobbs X-C Challenge. Held each year at the end of June.

BEST TIME

Hobbs is flyable all year long, and usually soarable. The best months for X-C are April through July.

FREQUENCY

123.30 (aircraft band)

CONTACT

Curt Graham, (505) 623-1261 Brian Nelson, (505) 392-1940

MISC

Check in at the NSF office before flying, and let them know that you have an aircraft radio and will be announcing your tows. Smile and be nice, they're friendly people who are also pilots, and who may also have an interest in hang gliding!

HANG GLIDING

One thing to note is that although paragliders are permitted, pilots must be cunent USHGA members to fly here (APA membership is currently being negotiated). Make sure that you check in with a local pilot to find out about any new rules, as the site has only been officially open for a couple of months. Please don't endanger the site by not checking in and following the correct protocol. Launch and the LZ are essentially the same place, although most pilots prefer to land on the grass next to the runways rather than the asphalt. The runways are up to 8,000' long, and provide fairly high tows even in ligl1t winds. I averaged finding a thermal and getting up and out on the second tow of each day. There are fields for X-C landings virtually everywl1ere, although some of the oil fields are a little tight. Soaring is Hobbs' biggest tourism attraction, and they love to have pilots in town. There's a beautiful park with a golf course, camping, and a jogging trail right across the street from the airport. Sailplane lessons are

to' Hobb

SSA Building

also available, and I recommend you take one. I had a great time learning to thermal using a

stick, and the speed and glide are incredible! I

felt somewhat detached from the air, like I was watching a movie, but all in all it was a lot of fun!•

Flying at Airports

For

those pilots (like myself) who have always thought of airports only as something to be avoided atall cost, it may seem funny to be launching and landing at one (even if it has no tower). To do so, though, one just has to become a little airport literate. You must learn to speak the local language, and of course to be able to talk with anyone you must have an aircraft radio. Airport runways are numbered according to the compass direction they face, so the "12" you see on the runway facing us in the picture doesn't mean that they have 11 more runways. It means that that particular runway faces 120°, or southeast. The pilots refer to it as "runway one-two", not runway twelve. The same piece of pavement (or dirt) is called "runway three-zero" if you 're coming from the other direction on it (180° off, or 300°). If the runway faced northeast by about 30°, it would be called "runway zero-three," not runway three. There may also be taxiways next to the runways that could also be used for takeoffs and landings. The "X" on the photo is an example, as is the wide stretch to next to runway 12. If you use a taxiway, just say something like "taxiway zero-three." The wide stretch next to runway 12 is very popular with the sailplane pilots, so they just call it "the ramp" or "ramp one-two." At airports without towers, there is no one to give (or deny) permission to use any runway at any given time. The idea is that everyone will be listening on the designated frequency (I 23.30 for Hobbs), and that they will also announce their intentions. If someone were to announce that they intended to launch from runway 1-2, an incoming aircraft could ask them to wait or decide to use a different runway for landing. It's all just cooperation, and the pilots I've met have all been extremely nice to anyone who seems to be trying to do things right. At Hobbs Industrial Air Park (aka Hl-AP), we 're requested to use the following protocol (the tow driver can do it-each pilot is not required to have the conect radio): Attention HI-AP Unicom. Hang glider tow operations commencing 011 runway. This alerts the other pilots that that pmticular runway may have thousands of feet ofline out that they could hit, and lets them avoid it. When there is no longer a tow rope hazard for them, the driver should announce: Attention HJ-AP Unicom. Hang glider tow rope is in. You probably won't get a response if everything is OK with the other pilots, but you may hear an occasional, "OK, thanks!" The other thing to do is to stop and talk to the other pilots before starting to tow. Find out which runways they plan on using, and try to minimize any conflicts. Since the sailplane pilots like to use "the ramp," tow the hang gliders on runway 12 instead (in the normal southwest wind). At HI-AP, there's also an area at the end of runway 17 that's set aside for RC use. This limits the amount of runway space available, since they don't like us driving in that space. There are some little signs that mark the end of where you should go, but ask someone to point them out to you and your driver. Ifwe just try to be considerate, the other pilots seem to be really nice about letting us share their airport. It's also a blast thermaling with hawks, sailplanes, and hang gliders all in the same thermal - especially if the hang glider is on top of the stack! •

OCTOBER 1992

'"···" ,,,. .... ,.. - is one Ihose rare sites that nol only provides execllent flying, but is also beautiful, Cloudbasc is usually high, thermals arc strong, and the Coronado National Forest provides bcau1ifu1 scenery as well as after, flying rccrcalion and camping, In the there is even a gorgeous waterfall thal is closed to foot traffic, but easily visible from the air. The site is localed less than 20 miles north oflhc Mexican border, so the X-C potential in that direction is cxlrernely limited, 1ml other di rec· tions offer excellent X-C. Thermals arc abundant, and the site is eminently soarahle. Miller Canyon is administered hy lhc Southern Arizona l lang Gliding J\ssociatim1, There's a locked gale on the way to launch, so this is another site that must always be rlown with a local, but that's a pretty good thing to do at any site! There's a Forest Service camp, ground just before the gate, nestled among the pine trees, so you can camp fairly close to launch. As with most sites, current USI l(l;\ membership is required for all pilots. Launch faces southeast, and is a nice gravel ramp that drops off to a cliff after about IO feet. There's plenty of room to nm, and launches arc relatively easy in rnost conditions. This is not a launch lo take too lightly, though. Due to the cliff edge, a blown launch here would be very dangerous. Figmc on launching sometime between I 0:00 AM and noon, as it typically starts

Si•I\HA

Vi.st.a

blowing down by I :00 PM, The LZ is a large, relatively f'lat field right next lo highway 92. There arc some small power lines, but if you check out the LZ before flying (a requirement here, and a good idea anywhere!) there should be no lroublc avoiding them, If necessary, the field on the far sick of the highway is also landablc. The LZ cannol be seen from launch, but is easily located from the air. There's a bar/restaurant almost right next to the LZ called Nick's Place, so once you break down you can walk over and have a tall, cold one! Although paraglidcrs arc not specifically prohibited here, no one has been successful al

launching one at Miller Canyon, The canopy always seems to deflate and fall on the pilot when he gc1s close to the edge. For this reason, paraglidcrs arc definitely NOT recommended. There arc other sites in the area I hat arc better for paraglidcrs anyway. Since you have to fly with a local pilot, weekday flying is usually l'airly limited, but weekends should be easier, The beautiful seen, cry makes Miller Canyon a spcetacularplacc lo fly, and well worth the reasonable restrictions. Consider stopping by if you're in the area. Ill

Rob and Betsy are trave/inr; lo vorious sites lhrour;h June of' /993, and can he reached al: Roh and Betsy Richardson, P.O. Box 732, Glen· dale, Ci\ 9/209-0732 (310) 764,80/2, J,:d.

SPECTRA

2,000' J/0512-725 Coated: State-Of-The,Arl Total Weight Approx. 3.0 lbs. 725 lbs, Tensile Only $300/Spool Braided Products Division David F. Bradley Box 291 Telford, PA 18960 723- 1710

The author's wifo Betsy over Miller Canyon lilunch. Photo by Rob Richarson.

HANG Gl.lDTNC

Site Info - Miller Canyon, Arizona SITE NAME

Miller Canyon

CHAPTER

Southern Arizona Hang Gliding Association (SAHGA) P.O. Box 43722 Tucson, AZ 85733

LOCATION

About five miles south of Sie1Ta Vista. Take I-10 southeast from Tucson to Highway 90, and go south 33 miles through Siena Vista until it dead-ends at Highway 92. Turn right and head south five miles (one mile past Can Canyon Rd.). The LZ is on your right just before you get to Nicksville.

ALTITUDE

7,460' MSL, 2,680' AGL.

RATING

Intermediate (Hang III), paragliders are NOT recommended.

PROTOCOL

Every pilot must be a current USHGA member with liability insurance.

RESTRICTIONS

Fort Huachuca lies just north of the LZ, so never fly directly north of the road to launch (Carr Canyon Rd.). There's usually a tethered surveillance balloon about 1/2 mile into the restricted airspace. There are numerous restrictions for X-C flight, including the Mexican border just 20 miles south of launch.

FEES

Full membership -

LAUNCH

Large gravel ramp with a 30° slope leading to a very unforgiving cliff. Wire crews are needed in higher winds.

DIRECTION

Launch faces southeast, and should only be attempted when thermals are coming fairly straight in. The prevailing winds are from the north, so this site is typically launched into thermal block only.

SETUP AREA

Room for 30+ gliders within 100' oflaunch, but the best area only has room for 6-8 gliders maximum, right next to launch.

ROAD

Last 1/2 mile is a rugged 2WD dirt road, but can be 4WD depending on recent weather. 30 minutes.

CAMPING

A beautiful Forest Service campground is located just minutesfrom launch, among cool pine trees, but free camping is also available in the next canyon south.

X-C

Good to excellent. There is some restricted airspace that's fairly easily avoided, but most directions are fairly clear. The site record is 200+ miles to the northeast (Tony Barton to Las Cruces, NM).

EVENTS

Miller Canyon Fly-In. Fun competition held the first weekend each May.

BEST TIME

Early in May, when cloudbase can be above 18,000'. Miller Canyon is flyable all year long, but the road and launch can get covered with snow in the winter.

FREQUENCY

151 .625 (USHGA)

CONTACT

Jim Lersch, (602) 326-7774 Mark Sawyer, (602) 327-1345 Eric Smith (Arizona Airfoils), (602) 790-3507 Russ Anderson, (602) 745-0587

MISC

There is a locked gate on the road to launch, so one must always fly with a local pilot here. There have been problems with fire in the past, so be extremely careful!

OCTOBER 1992

$15/year, including a fairly sporadic but roughly bimonthly newsletter.

by far back as l can remember I wanted to J\s a child I had dreams and daydreams about spreading my arms, feeling the lift of the wind and the exhilaration of becoming airborne, I f'antasizc:d about rtonling through the clouds and soaring like: a bird, That desire with me through adoll:sc:encc and into adulthood, Overt he: years I explored vario11s sports, always moving on in search of something more, I wasn' I wl1at I was looking for, hut I was convinced that when I found it there would be no doubt in my mind that "this is ii!" 011 May I 1990 I made my first tandem skydive, f'recf'all l I was flying! Iifc has realized I had l'inally become one with the: never been the same, J\s my enthusiasm and experience in freefall incn:ased, so did my awareness or canopy skills, Flying under canopy had always been the conclnsion or the skydive, a way to get hack to ear11L Then I'd pack my parachute and do it all over again, But gradually my appreciation of flying 40

under canopy increased; now it's the beginning or an adventure instead of the end of one, The majestic views and the serenity and calmness of f'lying over the earth is something I look forward to and appreciate, The sharing of my passion for skydiving with Rod Stafford, a hang gliding enthusiast, inspin:d him to participate in an accelerated frccfall (AH•) skydive, Since it seemed only fair to reciprocate, a tandem hang gliding flight was arranged for me with lligh Advc11t11rc, a San Bernardino-based hang gliding and paragliding school owned and operate;d hy Diane and Rob McKenzie, The date was set --- - August 8, I 992, l was to arrive at the: LZ at I :30 PM, On arriving I realized away that I needed to brush up on basic terminology, J\n LJ., I was told, is a "landing zone," ABOVE: Debra and instructor Rob McKenzie over Crestline, California, Photo by Rob McKenzie.

BANC C1m1Nc

similar to Ilic DZ (drop zone) used hy skydivers. So far so good. From !lien on I listened, oh· served and waited for the moment I would cxperit:ncc flight under the of a hang glider. 011 the drive up to the launch area I enjoyed the stories and camarackric. Skydiving is certainly kindred in tlrn1 respect. Rob and Diane had !he process of orient a· lion down to a science. Diane saw to it 11ia1 waivers were signed, my hdmd and harness were properly rit1ed, and 1ac1 fully allowed me 1hc opportunity to visit the porlablejohn before I moved on to Rob for basic instruction. I watched as Rob mcliculously assembled our glider. I was amazed at how quickly a roll of metal lubes and fabric metamorphosed into the apparatus 11ml would enable us 10 fly. Rob's attention soon t11rncd 10 me. He methodically went through launching and landing procedures. We prac1icccl a trial nm: "clcnr, walk, fly." I had complete eonfidc11cc in Rob's ahili1y and experience, as well as lhc safety of !he equipment we'd be using. I was aware that he and Diane had been involved in hang gliding since its infancy, and sensed their Jove and respect for the sport. Besides, lhey were still always ,l good sign! alive lo talk about it Finally, 11w moment I'd been wailing for With Diane's assistance, Rob situated the glider

had !:he and of orientation dozun . I watched as meticulously assembled our glider. I was at how quickly a of metal tubes and fabric metamorphosed into apparatus that would enable us to fly." a11he top of the ridge. I was asked to hook in and suspend myself from the glider for a harness check. l felt conspicuously awkward in equipment that was a second skin for Rob and Diane. It was time ... I didn't have an adrenalin rush, as I do when skydiving; instead I felt calm an1ici· pa1ion. I was ready. Wilhin seconds we were airborne. What a spcc1acular view! While I felt quite al home in the sky, I fell very awkward with the foreign apparatus. Rob patkn11y instrucied me 011 ex·

Debra gets a final hang d1eck before launch at Crestline, California. Photo by Rod Stafford.

Ocronrn I 902

Diane McKenzie (lc(t) flight harness check Rod Stafford.

ecuting turns. I found myself tensely clutching the con1rol bar while rcpcatcclly overshooting my turns. It wasn't fair, he made it look so effortless! Where were my paraclmle steering toggles when I needed them? lntcllcc1ually I know that familiarity with your equipment and mastery of il only corncs with time and much practice. Even so, [ was grcally humbled, which I had anticipated I would be. Rob allowed me a great deal of freedom to practice basic steering 1cclmiqucs, al least until I was banking a 1urn in1o the side of lhe mou11·· tain or stalling the glider in a 1hc'.rmal. Yes, tandem ins1ruclors need a lot ofpalicncc. fai1h, a11cl an inm stomach. Eventually, I relinquished 1hc control !Jar entirely. l wan1cd 10 take in the view and experience 11w sheer joy of nigh!. It was obvious that l wouldn't be mastering 1ny turns any time soon. The sensalion of flying in a hang glider is very similar to flying under canopy. lt was interesting 10 ascent in thermals. Occasio11ally undcrcm10py I've gained 500 feel

crossing through a the1mal, but it was nothing like spiraling upward under the wing of a hang glider. Our flight lasted approximately an hour. I found that setting up a landing approach is much the same as in skydiving, and we made a soft, stand-up landing. It seemed so natural, but I realize that landings like that aren't something a novice should count on. Learning to flare properly when landing a parachute comes only after many humbling rolls in the dirt, bruised knees and bruised egos. I imagine hang gliding is much the same. I came to the LZ without much knowledge of the sport. Reflecting back, I realize I had unintentionally anticipated a comparison between skydiving and hang gliding. Although there are a few basic similarities, the differences were what made the experience more satisfying. I now understand that there isn't a tangible way to compare the two sports, and that there needn't be. Driving home I felt content and challenged. This experience had opened my eyes to yet

Cross Country

another way to become one with the sky. It certainly touched the heart of that little child inside me. I guess it's really the little child in all

of us that allows us to dream, believe, and eagerly seek out the magic of life. Will I do it again? You bet. •

Crestline Reminiscences by Rod Stafford After arriving at the new Crestline LZ I realized that more than a few things had changed at my old alma mater. I looked over the boarded-up trailer that for so long had passed under our wings on final approach after happy hours spent wheeling over the rugged tenain, recalling the laughter, the close calls, the cold beers, and the friendship we shared. For most of those years Andy and Juanita Jackson were the patrons of Crestline, protecting the site, fighting City Hall, helping downed pilots, calling for help when more help was needed. There used to be a guy named Rob hanging around in those days, a quiet one who helped Andy with everything: repairs, keeping the LZ cleared, you name it. (He once built an electrical power windmill by hand, including propeller, to kick in a few micro-watts.) As Debra and I talked in the LZ we marveled at Rob and Diane as a couple, sharing the difficulties and challenges of a small business, providing service with a smile, protecting the site, and after all those years very obviously in love. Driving off, I watched the lonely, boarded-up trailerrecede in the dust behind us, and felt good that the new patrons of Crestline were there for the next generation, with eyes turned skyward. Thanks, you guys. •

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I have been following the weak link debate in past issues for some time, and it has become apparent that several key concerns have not been addressed. Bud Brown suggests in the November '91 issue that a weak link near 200 lbs. should not be exceeded. I agree. LaJTy Keegan in the May '92 issue states he had a "slight change of view" about weak links after talking with Chris Gagliano of Tow Launch Systems, and changed from a four-strand weak link to a three-strand. If the reader is wondering what "strands" are, it is wraps of205 leech line, which is a heat-stretched, non-coated, dualbraided polyester line used on the leech side of a sail in sailboats to adjust sail tension. 205 is used by many hang glider manufacturers to secure battens at the trailing edge on most hang gliders.

Testing

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In an effort to form an objective opinion, I sent six configurations of weak links to a line manufacturer who has an Instron machine. This device is used to measure the tensile strength of ropes and lines and is accurate to .1 lbs. I used 205 leech line in all the tests since it has become popular nationwide for weak links while towing. I used a combination of rope loops and aluminum rings in an attempt to cover as many configurations as possible. Listed below are the results of the testing and descriptions of the configurations.

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Breaking Strength TEST #1: ONE STRAND 205, ROPE LOOPS 142 lbs. TEST #2: *TWO STRANDS 205, ROPE LOOPS 257 lbs. TEST #3: TWO STRANDS 205, 3/16" ALUMINUM RINGS 265 lbs. TEST #4: THREE STRANDS 205, ROPE LOOPS 405 lbs. TEST #5: FOUR STRANDS 205, 1/4" ALUMINUM RINGS 550 lbs. TEST#6: RELEASE USING TWO 205 LOOPS AS WEAK LINK 490 lbs. *When multiple strands are listed, it is as follows: The 205 is tied to one loop,passed through the tow ring loop and retied next to the original

attachment point. In all of the above tests, except for #6, one piece of line was used.

I was sent test #6 by a winch operator who asked me to test his release design in which the weak link is built into his release. This way, each pilot has his own weak link. As you can see from the test results, he won't be bothered by those pesky weak link breaks.

Fat Line Theory Now that we know where weak links break, we only have to determine which one to use. What I am about to articulate may cause considerable debate, but I will feel better knowing that this information may save a pilot from injury or death. It's really very simple. Hang glider pilots who tow are driven by basic needs and priorities: to get as high as possible as inexpensively as possible. Inexpensive means cheap line. Cheap line is generally 3/16" to 3/8" polypro. Line this big is heavy and causes considerable drag ahead of the weak link. When towing above 1,000 feet AGL, a larger weak link must be used to overcome the additional loads created by the weight and drag of the larger line. THE WEIGHT AND DRAG OF THE LINE MUST BE ADDED TO THE FORCES GENERATED BY THE GLIDER IN WEAK LINK SIZING. This might raise a great debate, but testing this theory is simple: If you are cuJTently towing on a system using "fat" line, use weak link configuration #2 and see how high you get before the weak link breaks. If what Isa y is true, it should break consistently at the same altitude in mild conditions. Here in Phoenix we have five active tow operators all using 3/32" kev Jar tow line. All use configuration #2 for weak links. Towing to altitudes over 2,500 feet can be achieved with configuration #2 using this small, low-drag line. Weak links break at low altitudes if needed and we enjoy an exceptional safety record. Many years ago we used 1/4" polypro as a static line without problems. Only after we found longer roads and secured a pay-out winch with a capacity for more line, did it become apparent that additional altitude could be reached if we increased the weak link strength. I will reiterate my feelings on this as I have in my Towing Study Guide: Weak links are most important at low altitudes. Increasing weak link strength to get higher on fat line is dangerous and a compromise of your safety. Larry Keegan, May '92 : "I do not rely on my weak link to save me from a lockout. Instead I rely onmyrelease."Using a three-strand weak HANG GLIDING

FIGURE C LINE RELEASED

\ link with a breaking strength of 405 lbs., I can guarantee Mr. Keegan has little to rely on. Using an appropriately sized weak link, in my opinion, is the single most important safety device when towing any sport aircraft. Low altitude saves are a reality in towing, and I have personally experienced and witnessed many. Further, I strongly disagree with Mr. Keegan's position of staying on the line, waiting for a bad situation to "get better," especially at low altitudes. Most quality pay-out winches have a zeropressure clump control. This feature allows the winch operator to zero or clump hydraulic pressure, thereby releasing line tension and allowing the pilot to regain control of his wing should the pilot experience problems in a low altitude towing situation. I encourage other tow operators to respond to this to prevent future statistics.

Release Line Attachment I will address only two types of recognized release line attachment points: on the wrist and on the harness shoulder strap. Let's look at the pro's and con's of each in a logical manner.

On The Wrist On the wrist seems to make the most sense since you know where it is, and one quick jerk of the arm and you are off line ... maybe. Maybe your arm isn't long enough to get the line tight while under tow. Proponents of this method tell the pilot to "hook the line with your thumb before you release, then it will work every time." (Just what you want in a demanding situation.) Further, if you have the line attached to your right hand and have to make a quick input to the left, the line will get tight and auto-release unless you move your right hand to the center of the basetube. SEPTEMBER 1992

SCENARIO #1: Just off the truck, the glider gets hammered by a midday thermal. You feel your ship rolling right, so you need to pull in and move hard to the left to correct. Since the glider is rolling to the right, the tow line and bridle (with the release attached) is moving to the left, increasing the distance between your wrist and the release. You are using your right arm to keep your body over to the left to make the correction, but you realize that you MUST let go of the base tube and move your right hand to the center of the bar, or it will release. SCENARIO #2: (refer to diagram) You have just launched off the truck (A). Things are going well as you enter a strong thermal. The nose pitches up hard (B). This causes the tow line angle relative to the pilot to change, causing a shortening of the release line. Since the release line is anchored at your wrist, it gets tight and releases without you wanting it to (C), and now you are 50 feet off the ground, vertical, with no airspeed and not enough altitude for recovery or reserve deployment. (Hobbs 1990 - the pilot was killed on impact.) To test this, hook up to the tow line while on the truck and attach the release line to your wrist. Now assume your position while on tow. Then zero the pressure on the winch and have someone pull the tow line from behind. Don't be surprised to find you are no longer connected to the tow line. Now attach it to your harness shoulder strap and try it.

SCENARIO #3: You have a great tow to 2,000 feet, hook a big one and spend the next three hours at cloudbase. Being an X-C pilot, you have a radio, 02, water bottle, compass, instrument deck, map holder and all the accessories. Trying to squeak that last precious mile into your log, you find you have compromised your glide to the next available safe LZ. As you get lower you notice a small clearing sunounclecl by power lines on one side, trees on the other and a barbed wire fence at the encl. It's a small LZ

and will require a slipping turn followed by an aggressive flare. NO PROBLEM. Everything is going as planned until you reach for your right upright and find the release line is tangled on one of your accessories. Since it is secured to your wrist, you must land with one hand while estimating how long it will take to get a new leading edge, keel and a pound cake.

On The Harness Shoulder Strap This connection is not affected by the pilot's hand position. Being attached to the harness it is unlikely that it will cause problems in a compromising situation, since you have both hands free. If you move, the release line moves. You have to take your hand off the control bar to release, but you have to even if the line is connected to your wrist.

Conclusion The aforementioned scenarios are real. Names have been omitted to protect the guilty. Towing sport aircraft has defined risks. However, these risks can be reduced substantially if do the following: Receive proper training. Use an appropriate weak link. Use common sense. Use a comprehensive preflight check list every flight. I offer this information based on facts, years of experience and input from other tow pilots and operators. •

The author may be contacted at: (602) 863-

9909. -Ed.

,-,,~?·, ,_ ..... -~~~~t-·_

•

OcrnBnR 1992

year in VIII we hold an open cross-country compcli-· tion. It lasts all year long and the longest night wins. 11 's very competitive and has helped us all to hone our X·C skills. In May, Ted Hascnfus flew l 08 miles from Vermont to Gloucester, MassachuseHs. Teel fkw southeast for 85 miles. As lie approached the coast he headed south lo maximize his mileage, and flew out across the Cape Ann Peninsula and landed on Good Harbor Beach, al the very far end of the peninsula. This was to a very difficult night to beat. Either go south or ... Two weeks later a eold front went through during the night, and the next morning brought a l 15 mph west-northwest wind and blue dotted with nice cumulus clouds. The first 70 miles of my night went quickly. I was low several limes, but each time worked back up to 6,000'. I passed over the sands of Beach at 5,000' and co11kl have landed on the beach at about 94 miles, but, instead, I headed south toward Cape /\nn. I topped out at 6,000' a mile out to sea and hcackd south the 47

beach until I found another thermal. I continued south along the beach, always over the water, working thennals and crabbing back toward the beach for 25 miles. At one point I got to cloud base at 7,400'. I knew I could al ways get back to land, but it was very unnerving to look down at all that water. I was low near the beach when a flock of seagulls showed me a nice the1mal, and I left it at 4,500', not wanting to get too high, turned downwind and crossed Ipswich Bay to Cape Ann. Thatcher Island is 3/4 of a mile long and 300 yards wide. It has two lighthouses and no trees, just low bushes and grass, and it's two miles farther than Good Harbor Beach! I had seen the island several times before but had never been on it. My wife had given me a hook knife for Christmas but I hadn't sewn it onto my harness yet. I dug it out of my front pouch and held it in my hand. I couldn't grip the bar very well and didn't want to drop it, so I stuck it in my teeth. So here's the picture: I'm flying along at 4,000',

r. t -

Airspeed Indicator with Long Bracket

"The lighthouse keeper and his wife were the only ones on the island at the time. They looked past me at the dock to see my boat. I had to show them my hang glider before they believed that I had flown to the island." headed out to sea, toward an island, with a knife clenched between my teeth. I felt like a hang gliding pirate. I picked a small grassy area in which to land and circled down from 3,000'. An American flag showed a light breeze and I made an uneventful approach until I got about 15 feet from the ground. Suddenly it exploded with

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wings and feathers and a tremendous squawking. It was seagull nesting season and they were everywhere. I couldn't see for a second and nearly landed square on one. The lighthouse keeper and his wife were the only ones on the island at the time. They looked past me at the dock to see my boat. I had to show them my hang glider before they believed that I had flown to the island. The only transportation to the mainland was a 15-foot skiff, and the glider stuck out three feet past the front of the bow. It was a slow 40-minute ride to Rockport Harbor and I was very glad there were no waves. My wife, Barb, met me at the dock. As we said our good-byes we were invited to return, and we promised to anive next time in a more conventional manner. Thus ended a great, fun but somewhat wacky 110-mile flight. Both Ted's and my flights could have been longer - maybe 200 miles - if we hadn't run into the ocean. Ted and I joked about renting a barge and mooring it ... Maybe next year. •

USE YOUR IMAGINATION ... Picture a sport towing winch that can accommodate 5,000' of900-lb. kevlar Fineline, and has an automatic, hands-off line retrieval with no moving parts. Now envision an adjustable line tension indicator for variable loads: small pilots, large pilots or sensitive loads such as a paraglider. Imagine a retrieval system which flies the line back to the winch every time in less than 60 seconds without touching the ground regardless of winch position or wind direction. Power this winch with a custom-made, ball bearing motor designed for continuous use. Now visualize this system powder-coated in UV stabilized polyester and mounted on your vehicle, boat or trailer and call it: SMARTOW, the safest, simplest and most reliable sport towing winch available today.

SMAR TOW only available from:

REEL ALTITUDE 602-581-8470 Designed for hang gliders, paragliders and the skeptical. Price: $2950.00 CALL FOR FREE BROCHURE, VIDEO $15.00 Contact us for all your towing needs: Ground Launch Vehicles, tow line, releases, line recovery systems, hook knives, weak links, towing and aero-towing instruction and certification.

HANG GLIDING

Hang gliding old-timer and former Hang Gliding editor Rich pursuing another passion.

you hang glide or kayak you launch an elegant craft into a fluid medium and "go with the l'low."Whcn you rock climb your body is your crafl and the /'low is your own. Jiang gliding pioneer Rich Grigsby has been climbing since I 971. The promise of ad· vcnlllrc, natural beauty, and excitement, drew him to rock climbing just as ii drew him to hang gliding. The for Grigsby is that both sports challenge him mentally as well as physi-· calJy. "In both sportsanticipatingyournext move is crncial," says Grigsby.";\ hang glider pilot must figure out where to/i'nd the nc:xt thermal before he can use his skill to snag and core it. Similarly, a climber's nmtc up a rock face is a problem that must be solved mcn1ally then overcome physically." Both sports have their ''hot sites"-· places of spectacular beauty, each offering unique charactcrist ics and challenges. Even at the same site, different conditions and different routes offer a wide range of intensity: "J11sl like in flying, the 'adrenalin quoticnl' permeates the sport!" says "A day of climbing can deliver a level of intensity similar to scratching rora thermal JOO feet over tree tops on the way lo a 200-milc flight, or it can he like a mellow Ocromrn 1992

glide in 'cnd-of.t.hc,day,glass-off' conditions." Perhaps the biggc,s1 dilforcnce between rock climbing and hang gliding is the high level of physical fitness required for advanced climb· crs. "On easy and moderate climbs a proficient climber needs only good technique," says Grigsby. "But steeper, more dif'ficull routes req11irc power, endurance, and flexibility." Rock climbing offers social advantages for adventurers with different physical limits, or di ffcrent appetites f"or exploring those limits. One of the main n,asons Grigsby got into rock climbing is that it's something he and his wife Sherry could do together. "Climbing is a good sporl for couples and small groups even if their skill levels arc different," says Grigsby. "The leader and followcr(s) face cliffcrcnt challenges, hut all share equally in the responsibility for climbing a route succcssf111ly." Companionship is more than just a social nicety in rock climbing. Rock climbers depend on each other like hang glider pilots depend on parachutes. There is always another person (called a bclaycr) manning the rope that will save you should you miss a step and "come off the rock." Lead climbers have the extra responsibility of setting secure "anchors" at every "pitch" OJI the the way lo the top.

"When you 're pushing the limits i11 rock climbing it doesn't matter if you arc a neophyte or a highly trained international climbing star," concludes Grigsby, "the commitment, the fo,, cus, the determination, and the sense of accomplishment is exactly the same, I feel that's unique to the sport of rock climbing."

Rock climbing instructors are called guides, and the key to a safo introduction to rock climbing is 10 avoid the "I Icy, Man! Guide Service" like the plague. The hang gliding equivalent is an unq11alificd friend or relative saying: "Hey man, let's go hang gliding!" Start with professionally supervised "technical, top-rope, free-climbing." "Technical" means that a fall could kill you unless yo11 know how to deploy and use "pro!cction" (climbing harness, anchors, rope, belaycr). ''Top-rope" means that someone who knows something has set the anchor at the top of your training climbs. "Frcc .. climbing" means you use only your own body plus climbing shoes and the "holds" you find on the rock to prnpcl you upwards.

Whether your lesson takes place indoors or out, as a "sport climber" or a "traditional climber" your first lesson will go something like this: 1) Ground school: Overview of!esson, equipment fitting, climbe1/belayer communication techniques. 2) Anchors: Choose anchor sites, set anchors, install top-ropes above climbing routes. 3) Warm-up and stretching: A first day lesson is not that physically demanding. It does, however, place unusual stresses and strains on your muscles, ligaments, and tendons. "Warm and loose" means fewer pulls, strains, or less stiffness on the following day. 4) Bouldering or slab traversing: Like bunny slope training. Lets you practice moves and learn "sticky shoe magic" just a few feet off the ground. 5) Harnesses and knots: How to secure and adjust harness. How to "tie in" to top-rope. 6) Belay techniques: Communication, bottom anchoring, giving and taking slack, braking techniques for "belay" device being used. 7) Climbing easy routes on less than vertical rock "slabs": Easy routes feature more, bigger, or better placed hand and foot holds. 8) Climbing harder routes on increasingly vertical rock "faces." Harder routes require increasing measures of strength, balance, and

coordination. 9) End of lesson review: Puts you in touch with what your likes and dislikes are, your climbing strengths and weaknesses, and your future climbing goals. Done right, a rock climbing lesson can be the first step in a dance with the mountains that will take you as high and as far as you care to go. Done wrong, it can be deadly. A rock climber's term for a fatal accident is "cratering" or "taking the big ride." Just like in hang gliding you punch your own ticket.•

• Always there when you need them • Warm, comfortable, durable, slide easily across control bar • Instant bare hand dexterity for launch, CB, chute, camera • Quality construction, 111-in. neoprene, nylon inside and out • Available in red or black S, M, or L only $32.50 dealer inquiries invited

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Erik Fair was a staff writerfor Hang Gliding magazine from 1981-1986. His latest book, California Thrill Sports ($14.95, Foghorn Press, San Francisco) can be found or ordered at most California book stores. Direct mail order price of $17.95 includes tax and shipping. Ca{{ Foghorn Press at (800) 8427477 for details.~ Ed.

884-6851

HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS HANG GLIDING ADVISORY Used hang gliders should always be disassembled before flying for the first time and inspected carefully for fatigued, bent or dented downtubes, ruined bushings, bent bolts (especially the heart bolt), re-used Nyloc nuts, loose thimbles. frayed or rusted cables, tangs with non-circular holes, and on Rogallos, sails badly torn or torn loose from their anchor points front and back on the keel and leading edges. If in doubt, many hang gliding businesses will be happy to give an objective opinion on the condition of equipment you bring them to inspect. Buyers should select equipment that is appropriate for their skill level or rating, New pilots should seek professional instruction from a VSHGA-certified school. ROGALLOS COMET I 185 -

Mint condition, $675. (916) 743-7541.

COMET 185 - Good performance, great handling, super price. S300 (619) 575-4939. DOVES WANTED - Electra Flyer, Doves A, B or C, wanted by instructor for school use. Any condition. Raven Sky Sports (414) 473-2003. DREAM 145 - Excellent condition with wheels. S l,100 OBO (602) 371- 1514 evenings. OREA/vi I 65 - Still crisp! Always stored inside. Perfect first time glider. Basetube w/whcels plus spcedbar, extra downtubcs and more. Sl ,300/offer. Call now 1Stcve@(415) 5,0-5441. DREA,'v! 222-ASl, ncarnew, 5 /lights $2,300. (801) 2546141. DREAMS IN STOCK - All sizes, including 145's. Many other used gliders available, including Visions & Spcctrums. Raven Sky Sports (414) 473-2003. DUCK 165 - Grear shape $400. Raymond harness. like new, small S400. CG IOOO harness $125. Jeff (303) 3496590. FORMULA 144 - Great shape, red LE. gold & white. $2,150 (602) 774- 5490. GEMINI 164 - Harness & more. Rainbow colors, clean. excellent condition, musr sell. $650 OBO (818) 896-0924. GTR l 62- Full race, good condition $800. (209J 784-5394 evenings. GZ 155 - Rainbow, <60 hours, US Nationals 1985. S700 you pay shipping. Steve (20 l J 934-7631. HANG GLIDER SAIL REPAIR & REBUILDING IlY DENNIS VAN DAM/AEROSAIL - Serving the hang gliding community for over a decade. ··Integrating aesthetics with the highest order of structural integrity." Aerosail. 1617 W 40th SL. ChatLanooga TN 37409. (615) 821-5945.

Excellent condition, 6191. Only $2,300 (310)

SPORT 180 - Excellent condition, 20 hours $1,500. CG IOOO harness and parachute, John (818) 441-8826.

HP AT 158-Vcry clean, excellent performer, less than 40 hours. $2,100 OBO (602) 791-0816.

SUPER SPORT 163 - Low time $2,600. Z-3 harness-new, for pilot over 6' $450. (6 l 9) 934-9207.

HP AT 158-Low hours. $1,700 OBO (503) 389-3899.

TANDEM - Or big pilot, 210 GTR 7075, only 15 hours $1,800. (619) 872-48IO.

HP AT 158 207-5446.

HPAT 158- l yearold, lowhours,$2,200. HPl-$500. Call (717) 476- 6645. K2 145 - 10 hours $2,800. Duck 160, $400. Raven 209, $200. Firefly 185, $200. Large Pacific Airwave stirrnp w/ built-in parachute container, $150. (501) 663-3166. K2 l 55 - 30 hours, warp TE, excellent condition $2,900. (3 lOJ 207- 5446. K2 155 - ExcellenL condition, factory competition model, will ship. $2,500 (505) 275-2350.

TRX TRX TRX - 140, zero hours $3,600. 160, 45 hours $3,000.1992 Raymond harness, black, loaded, 6'-6'3" pilot. (619) 944-3462 TRX 140-All options with matching custom glider bag. 8 hours $3,800. Call Greg Smith (702) 884-3335. TRX l 60 - Plown one season. Great shape, must sell $3,300. (7 l 8) 638-2054.

KISS 150-3 hours airtime. Sl,200 Allan (415) 664-2931. MK IV 19-Blue trilam LE, yellow trim, speedbar& spares. Never damaged, 20 hours. SI ,750 (319) 277-4137. i\,[OYES GLIDERS - All sizes of XS gliders available under $3,300., 20 hours ai11ime or less. Also available are new XS's, XT's, XC's and Missions. Call Tony (805) 6441242 ext. 123, (805) 658-0958. MOYES 142 XS- 20 hours, mint condition. MOYES 162 WORLD BEATER, JO hours, excellent condition. PRO FIL COMP 130, 30 hours, mint condition. CG 1000 harness with extra pockets, ballast, built in water, front zipper entry and BRS rocketchutecomplete. Fits individuals5 '4"-5'7" weighing l l 0-125 lbs. CG 1000 harness with extra pockets, front zipper entry and BRS rocket chure complete. Fits individuals 5'8"-6'1" weighing 180-210 lbs. SPORT KELLER pod harness with extra pockets. excclJent condition. Fits indivictuals 5'4"-5'7'' weighing 110-125 lbs. WILLS WING COCOON harness, excellent condirion. Fits individuals 5 '4"-5 '7'' weighing 110-125 lbs. 2 BALL 651 varios, borh in excellent condition and recently calibrated. No reasonable offer will be refused. (805) 294-9191. NC BLUE RIDGE HANG GLIDING SCHOOL - WW HPAT S2,600. HP 1.5 $700. Sport Euro l 67 S1,500. Raven 209 $600. Foil Combat 152 52,500. Sensor l3 Sl ,000. Comet 11 S700. Used harnesses S5U and up. Bubba (919) 385-9075, Travis (704) 758-933 l.

SENSOR-Two VGC models. Low hours, high miles, good condition. While LE, red LS S J,200. Y cllow LE, red LS S900. (815) 234-5388. SENSOR H/C KIT-Very good condition S800. (805) 6587261. SENSOR B/C - All mylar sail. superior sink rate. $700 OHO, Woody (6l9J 575--1939.

HP AT 145 NEW - $3,200. Vision Mark IV l 9, near new $],600. HaITicr 147. near new S600. 152 Foil Combats. S2. l OU and S3,200. 222 Dream, new 52,600. 149 Raven. $400. 135 Comet. S550. I600lympus, S20U. (801) 254-6141

SK YI IA WK I 88 - Excellent condition, white with red and blue. low hours, extra downtubcs S950. Scon at (503) 2459401 evcs .. !503) 232-5117 clays.

HP AT 145 -Jan. 1991, 100 hours, tlys perfectly, never crashed. pretty. Scven.11 100+ milers, extra DT's. references. 52,700 0130, (208) 237-9157.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA USED GLIDER REFERRAL - llUY-SELL-CONSIGN, ALL J\IAKES. MODELS. CALL TODAY (619) 450-1894 OR (619) 450-9008,

OCTOBER 1992

TEXAS - Trades, new, used, locator service. Call RRA (512) 467-2529.

TRX - Green Team proven. Ready to rock! House broken. Can be seen at goal! $2,500 Erik (303) 349-093 l. UP CONDOR 269 602-5105 days.

Tandem glider/floater. $350. (510)

VISIONS & SPECTRUMS -Bought-Sold-Traded. Raven Sky Sports (414) 473-2003. COLORADO HANG GLIDING (303) 278-9566 24 HOURS. REGION IV'S OLDEST, LARGEST FULLTIME SHOP. "Celebrating Our 20th Year of Unsurpassed Safety!" Paraglidcrs (all brands) .... ........... $800-$3 ,000 Helmets (all brands, styles) ......... $58-$260 Used harnesses . .......... $75-$500 Varios (demo's, all brands) .. .. ...... $,5-$500 Reserve Chutes (all sizes), never used, each inspected repacked, w/new bridle and bag .... $265 ...... $300 PDA's ........... ........ ........... Equipment 100% Guaranteed/Major Credit Cards . ............. <l HOUR. .... $2,400 SPORT 167 ... LT DREAM 220 . ........ <2 HOURS. ....... $2,400 .. $2,000 LT DREAM 145. .......... <2 HOURS. VISION ECLIPSE 19 .. ..... <60HOURS ....... $1,lOO LT MYSTIC 177. .... ....... .<40 HOURS. .. ... Si,000 LT DREAM 185. .. ........ <50 HOURS .. ..... $1,000 EXCELL 160 .... .. ....... <40 HOURS ....... Sl,000 PROD AWN 155 . ...... ....... <25 HOURS ....... $600 ...... <40HOURS . .. ... 5450 PROSTAR 166 ... COMET I 165 ..... .............. <50 HOURS .. ... S475 PHOENIX 6D 185 .. ... ..<45 HOURS. ... $450 SEAHA WKS 170 ..... ........ 3FOR. .. ....... S750 All offers considered. Equipment is 100'/, guaranteed, inspected, shipped anywhere. COLORADO HANG GLIDING (303) 278-9566, 24 hrs.

FALL CLEARANCE .......... Best Offer Formula 144 ..... .......... New. Formula 154 Demo .. ..... 5 Flights Only ... $2,795 ... l3est Offer Mark IV l 7 Full Race ....... New. Spectrum 144 .... .. .... $2,400 .. .. $2,200 Spectrum l 65 . .. 52,000 HPAT 158. MANY MORE TO CHOOSE FROM: THE HANG GLIDING CENTER (619) 450-9008

CLASSIFIEDS GOLDEN WINGS I 103 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401 TOLL FREE ORDER PHONE 1-800-677-4449 or (303) 278-7181 Mystic 177 VG ................... Exe. cond ........ S 1,300 Vision 19 (used) ... Exe. cond ........ $1,800 Several Sport 167.. .. ............. $1800-$2,200 HP AT ...... Demo ............. $2,800 Many other good used gliders $450-$1000

ULTRALIGHTS LA l\10UETTE/COSMOS-Full range of trikes & accessories. ,JEFFERSON AERO SPORTS (503) 327-1730. ULTRALIGHT A VIATl ON - American and europcan trikes and wings. 1117 Cold Harbor Dr., N. Las Vegas NV 89030, (702) 399-4044. WANTED

EMERGENCY PARACHUTES WANTED A BEST BUY! - $265, never deployed, new bridle, bag (PDA 's $300). Inspected and repacked, all sizes. Fully Guaranteed! Colorado Hang Gliding (303) 278-9566. ALL BRANDS - Bought, sold, a11d repacked. Inspection and repack $35.00 - Parachutes, bridles, inspected and replaced. AIRTli'vlE OF SAN FRANCISCO, 3620 Wawona, San Francisco, CA 94116. (415) SKY- 1177. 20 GORE 993-0806.

New bridle and deployment bag, S195. (708)

PARAGLIDERS ITV METEOR 103 - Excellent condition. Flown less than 3 hours on a grassy slope. Orange, green. S1,400 (508) 7419077. ITV SAPHIR 100-S I ,OOOcxcellent. ITV Saphir Must 265, excellent $1,500. Both with harness, 135-160 lb. pilot or trade for beginner hang glider. (303) 449-735 I. STELLAR 27 - By UP. LOW HOURS, LOW PRICE $ l ,950/make an offer. Call Robert (509) 493-4363. WILLS, UP'S, ETC - $795 + up. Instruction, equipment, southern California and European tours (714) 654-8559.

TRIKE in good condition. (717) 629-6227.

WANTED- Used hang gliding equipment. Gliders, instruments, harnesses and parachutes. Airtime of San Francisco, 3620 Wawona, San Francisco, CA 94116. (415) SKY-1177. SCHOOLS & DEALERS ALABAMA ROCKET CITY AIRSPORTS-Certified instruction, sales, service, glider rentals. Send S 1.00 for brochure, directions, accommodations, etc. to 106 South Side Square, Huntsville AL 35801. (205) 880-8512 or (205) 776-9995. ARIZONA ADVENTURE SPORTS TOURS- Certified instruction utilizing the world's first man-made training hill plus other sites which all face every wind direction. Dealer for Pacific Airwave, \Vil ls Wing, Ball and High Energy, 1327 E. Bell De Mar Dr., Tempe, AZ 85283 (602) 897-7121. DESERT HANG GLIDERS - USHGA Certified School. Supine specialists. 4319 W. Larkspur, Glendale, AZ 85304. (602) 938- 95S0. ARKANSAS

CALIFORNIA ACTION SOARING CENTER - In Lodi near Stockton. Personalized USHGA certified instruction, sales and service. Emphasis on special skills, techniques, launching & landing. Demo's. Ask about tow clinic. (209) 368-9665. AIRTIME OF SAN FRANCISCO - HANG GLIDING & PARAGLIDING, Complete, safe & fun, USHGA & APA certified training program. Ivlountain clinics & ground schools. ALL MAJOR BRANDS. Quality airframe and sewing by factory trained repair technicians. Parachute services. Large selection of 2nd hand gear (buy & sell). Rentals available. Next to Fort Funston. The only full service shop in San Francisco! 3620 Wawona, San Francisco CA 94116. (415) 759-1177. CHAN DELLE SAN FRANCISCO, INC. -Complete hang g1iding and paragliding sales, service and instruction since 1973. Northern California's most complete repair facility. New and used equipment and demo's, lesson packages, clinics and tandem lessons. 6880 Sir Francis Drake, Forest Knolls CA 94933, (415) 488-4202. COMPACT WINGS PARAGLIDING - Wills Wings, UP and others. APA & USHGA Class ll instruction. Great flying year-round. Southern California and European tours. Located at best paragliding site (Soboba). (714) 654-8559 HANG GLIDER EMPORIUM -Best training hill in the west' Full service hang gliding/paragliding shop, established 1974. 613 N Milpas St., Santa Barbara CA 93103, (805) 9653733. THE HANG GLIDING CENTER - Located in beautiful San Diego. USHGA instruction, equipment rentals, local flying tours. Spend your winter vacation !lying with us. \Ve proudly offer Wills Wing, Pacific Airwave, High Energy, Ball and we need your used equipment. 4206-K Sorrento Valley Blvd., San Diego, CA 92121 (619) 450-9008.

SAIL WINGS HANG GLIDING/PARAGLIDING - Instruction, sales, service. Pacific Airwavc. P.O. Box 5593, Little Rock, AR 72215. (50 I) 663- 3166.

,--------------------------------------1 USHGA CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING ORDER FORM 50 cents per word, $5.00 minimum. Boldface or caps $1.00 per word. (Does not include first few words which are automatically caps.) Special layouts or tabs $25 per column inch. (phone numbers-2 words, P.O. Box-1 word) photos-$25.00 line art logos-$15.00 Deadline-20th of the month, six weeks before the cover date of the issue in which you want your ad to appear (i.e., June 20 for the August issue). Prepayment required unless account established. No cancellations and no refunds will be allowed on any advertising after deadline. Ad insertions FAXed or made by telephone must be charged to a credit card. Please enter my classified ad as follows:

Number of words: _ _ _ _ _ @ .50 = _ _ _ _ __ Number of words: @ 1.00 = _ _ _ _ __

Number of Months:_ _ _ __ Section (please circle) Towing Wanted Rogallos Schools and Dealers Emergency Chutes Ultralights Parts & Accessories Rigid Wings Business & Employment Publications & Organizations Miscellaneous Paragliders 19_ _ issue and run for consecuBegin with tive issue(s). My check 0, money order 0, is enclosed in the amount of

$_ _ _ _ __ NAME:_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ ADDRESS: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

USHGA, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300

L----------------·----------------------~ 52

HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS WINDSPORTS - LA 's largest since 1974. fifteen minutes from LAX. Central to Sylmar, Crestline, Elsinore and training sites. Vacation training. flying and glider sales packages including lodging and rentals. The mosl popular gliders and equipment, new and used in stock. Trade in your old equipment. 325 sunny days each year. Come fly with us! 16145 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys CA 91406. (8l8) 988- 01 I I, fax (818) 988-l862.

SEQUATCHIE VALLEY SOARING SUPPLY our ad under Tennessee

See

IDAHO TREASURE VALLEY HANG GLIDING - Airwave, Moyes, UP. Demo's, ratings, tours, service. (208) 376-7914. ILLINOIS

COLORADO COLORADO CLOUDBASE - Guided tours, drivers, videos, accessories. (719) 630-7042, FAX (719) 630-8126. PO Box l6934, Colorado Springs CO 80935. HIGH ADVENTURE- Hang gliding, paragliding school. Equipment sales, service, rentals at Southern California's mile high site, Crestline. USHGA/APA Instructor Roh McKenzie. By appointment year round. (714) 883-8488.

COLORADO HANG GLIDfNG/PARAGLIDING - Celebrating 20 years of unsurpassed safety. 1st USHGA certified school in the U.S.A. Region's largest and oldest. Operating full time since I 972. (303) 278-9566.

LAKE ELSINORE HANG GLIDING - Southern California USHGA Instruction, WILLS WING dealer & repair shop. FL YTEC instrumcnl demo's & glider rentals. Located I min. from LZ. Come stay at our PILOT HOUSE, large 2 story house on l acre orange plantation with lots of shady palm trees & quiet sunoundings. Ask for our complete tour package (714) 678-2482.

EAGLE'S NEST SCHOOL OF HANG GLIDING/ PARAGLIDING - USHGA & APA certified instruction. Sales and service. P.O. Box 25985, Colorado Springs, CO 80936 t7 l9) 594-0498.

RAVEN SKY SPORTS - (312) 360-0700 or (708) 3600700. Please see our ad under WISCONSIN. INDIANA JJ MITCHELL - USHGA certified school and instruction. TANDEI\'1. PacAir dealer. 674l Columbia Ave .. Hammond, IN 46324 (2l9) 845- 2856. KENTUCKfANA SOARING -

MISSION SOARING CENTER - Serving the Hying community since l 973. Complete pilot training program with special attention to takeoff and landing skills. Custom supcrlite training gliders. Comfortable training harnesses! Deluxe retail shop. Wills, PacAir. UP, demos, new gliders in stock! Best trade-in prices. Try all the new harnesses in our simulator. Large selection of specialized equipment, beginner to XC. I I I 6 Wrigley Way, Milpitas (near San Jose) CA 95035. (408) 262-!055.

MOUNTAlN WlNGS -

Look under New York.

\VINDGYPSY - USHGA Certified school specializing in personalized tandem flight training. Full service sales & repair facility in Lake Elsinore- call for site info. Wide range of new & used glider & night accessories in stock. Proudly demonstrating ivloyes, Pacific Airwavc, Sccdwings, ASl (Dreams), ESS rapid deployment parachutes. Ask about Windgypsy Safaris. Windgypsy, PO Box 506, Elsinore West Marina, Lake Elsinore CA 92586, (7l4) 678-54[8.

OCTOBER 1992

GREAT LAKES HANG GLIDIJ\G, INC. - USHGA certified instructors. Dealers for lvloycs gliders, new & used equipment. Located near Warren dunes (616) 465-5859. PRO HANG GLIDERS- USHGA instruction since l 978. Advanced lnstrnctor, Examiner, Observer. Safety is #1. \Ve 've been towing for a decade. Come on SE Michigan, let's wake up! We've got a soaring site now. Give me a call at(313) 3999433, ask for Norm. 569 W Annabelle, Hazel Park MI 48030. \!INNESOTA SPORT SOARING CENTER/MINNEAPOLIS - instruction, equipment dealers for Pacific Airwave, UP & \Vills Wing. (6 I 2) 557-0044.

world famous Torrey Pines Glider Port, one of San Diego's

ULTRAFLIGHT HANG GLIDING - Wills Wing, Seedwings, Moyes, High Energy and more. Servicing Lake McClure area. (209) 874-l795 Waterford, CA.

Sec ad under Texas.

CONNECTICUT

At the launch of the

TRUE FLIGHT CONCEPTS - USHGA Certified Instruction, Sales & Service. Become a better pilot in less time with our small personalized classes & tandem instrnction. Our head instructor has over 12 years teaching experience. Only minutes from our local Kagel Mountain flying site. l3 l85 Gladstone Ave., Sylmar, CA 91342. (818) 367-6050.

RED RIVER AIRCRAFf MICHIGAN

L/D ENTERPRlSES - Sail and harness repair - Equipment manufacturing - Towing supplies - 5000 Butte #183, Boulder, CO 8030 l (303) 440- 3579.

FLORIDA

highlights! Unmatched convenience for pilots and spectators. Refreshments and souvenirs at the Cliffl1anger Cafe. Certified Training program featuring tandem soaring lessons. New, used, rental and demo equipment by Delta Wing and UP. 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037 (619) 452-3202.

RA VEN SKY SPORTS - ( 4 I 4) 4 73-2003. Please sec our ad under WISCONSIN. LOUISIANA

GOLDEN WINGS - Sales, service. USHGA certified instruction. Dealers for Wills Wing, PacAir. I 103 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 8040 I. (303) 278-7181.

PERFORMANCE DESIGN PARAGLIDING SCHOOL - Excalibur, Edel, UP, and many more. APA & USHGA certified instructors. \Vorld wide tours, accessories. Call for free catalog. (714) 697-4466. TORREY FLIGHT PARK, INC. -

Sec ad under parts.

J•]J;:IJ,JJ }Jj]JJ <:J fl1]!)JjJ <j"' WE CAN TEACH YOU FASTER AND SAFER, MIA.\U HANG GLIDING, Il\C. has the most advanced training program known to hang gliding today. USHGA certified school specializing in personalized flight training. Full service shop handling all makes and models of gliders. For more info call (305) 573-8978. GEORGIA LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK -AMERICA'S #I HANG GLIDING SCHOOL, Hying site. Find out why three times as many pilots earn their mountain wing~ at Lookout! Complete certified training-"bunny hill" to mountain soaring. We wrote USHGA's OFFICIAL FLIGHT TRAINING MANUAL! Our specialties: foot-launch, tandem and tow instrnction, FIRST MOUNTAIN FLIGHTS, customer service and satisfaction. Lesson packages, ratings, glider rentals, AEROTOWING. Largest inventory hang gliders (all brands), equipment. Complete sail/airframe repairs. Camping, SWIMMING POOL. Send SI for information packet. Route 2, Box 2 I 5-H, Rising Fawn GA 30738 (20 minutes from Chattanooga, Tennessee) (800) 688-LMFP, (706) 398-354l.

MISSOURI SAIL WINGS -

See Arkansas.

NEVADA ADVENTURE SPORTS - Sierra tours our specialty USHGA & APA certified school and ratings. Dealers for Pacific Airwave. Wills Wing, UP, Enterprise Wings. Fly the Sierras with a full-service shop. 3650 Research Way, Carson City, NV 89706 (702) 883-7070. NEW JERSEY MOUNTAIN WINGS -

Look under New York.

NEW MEXICO UP OVER NEW MEXICO - lnstrnction, sales, service. Sandia Mountain guides. Wills, Seed wings, Pacific Airwave, Delta, Moyes. Albuquerque, NM (505) 821-8544.

CLASSIFIEDS NEW YORK AAA MOUNTAIN WINGS HANG GLIDING CENTER AND FLIGHT PARK - Now offering PARAGLIDING instruction and sales. Base of ELLENVILLE MTN. Four exclusive training hills. Area's only dealer for Pacific Airwavc, UP, Seedwings and Delta Wing with demos in stock. We are the largest, most complete H.G. accessory and repair shop of its kind in the country. Many new and used gliders in stock. R/C supplies and kits, Ultra Pod camera systems. VISA and MASTERCARD accepted. Stop in and get your flight pass and gate combo. 150 Canal St., Ellenville, NY 12428 (914) 647-3377. In N.E. 1-800-525- 7850. FLY HIGH HANG GLIDING, INC. - Serving S. New York, Connecticut, Jersey areas (Ellenville Mtn.). Area's EXCLUSIVE Wills Wing dealer/specialist. Also all other

SOUTHERN OREGON HANG GLIDING - Certified instruction, ATV retrieval. Pacific Airwave, Wills Wing, UP. (503) 479-5823. PENNSYLVANIA

GM! PARAGLIDING SCHOOL-Open in New York, free color brochure (516) 676-7599. SUSQUEHANNA FLIGHT PARK - Cooperstown, NY. Certified Instruction, Sales and Service for all major manufacturers. 40 acre park, 5 training hills,jccp rides, bunk house, camping, hot showers, 600' NW ridge. We have the best facilities in N. New York state to teach you how to fly. RD 2, Box 348A, Cooperstown, :,/Y 13326, (315) 866- 6153. NORTH CAROLINA COROLLA FLIGHT - America's most experienced tandem flight instructor, teaches utilizing ATOL and Double Vision. Call or write for information Greg DeWolf, Corolla Flight, PO Box 1021, Kitty Hawk NC 27949. (919)261-6166 KITTY HA WK KITES, INC. - P.O. Box 1839, Nags Head, NC 27959 (919) 441-4124. Learn to hang glide on Jockey's Ridge, the largest sand dune on the east coast.just south of where the Wright Brothers' first flight took place. Beginner and advanced lesson packages and camps offered. Advanced tandem tow instruction, l 500 ft. plus up. Dealer for all major brand gliders, complete inventory of new and used gliders, accessories and parts. OHIO SKYWARD ENTERPRISES -MARIO MANZO-Basic instructor. Frame & sail repair. Seed wings, CG-l 000. Dayton/Chillicothe. (513) 256-3888 weekday evenings. NORTH COAST HANG GLIDING-Certified Instruction. New & used gliders. Specializing in Pacific Airwavc gliders. Mike Del Signore, 19!6 W. 75th St., Cleveland, OH. 44102 (216) 631-1144. OREGON AIRTIME OREGON HANG GLIDING CENTER - Certified instruction. Dealer for AS!, Moyes, PacAir, UP and Wills Wing. BRS, High Energy, 2ndChantz, Airwear, Center of Gravity and f\,fantis harnesses and more. Factory leftovers from UP original and American \Vindwrighl. Demo gliders & harnesses available. Full service shop. (503) 998-1220.

WASATCH WINGS - USHGA certified hang gliding school, dealers for Wills Wing, Moyes and Pacific Airwave. Flight operations at Point of the Mountain. Call Gordon (80 I) 277-1042.

MOUNTAIN TOP RECREATION - Certified instruction, Pittsburgh. (4!2) 697-4477. C'MON OUT AND PLAY!

VIRGINIA

MOUNTAIN WINGS -Look under New York.

KITTY HA WK KITES -

WINDWALKER HANG GLIDING - Certified instruction. Pacific Airwavc/UP Dealer/Glider Accessories. Great Northeastern sites! RR #2 Box 2223, Schickshinny PA l 8655, (717) 864-3448.

SILVER WINGS, INC. - Cc11ificd instruction and equipment sales. Proudly representing Pacific Airwave, Wills Wing, Seedwings & UP. (703) 533-1965 Arlington VA.

Sec North Carolina.

WISCONSIN TENNESSEE

major brands, accessories. Cc11ificd school/instruction. Teach· ing since 1979. Area's most INEXPENSIVE prices/repairs. Excellent secondary instruction ... if you 'vc finished a program and wish to continue. Fly the mountain! ATOL towing! Tandem flights! Contact Paul Voight, RD 2, Box 561, Pine Bush, NY 12566, (914) 744-3317.

UTAH

HAWK AIRSPORTS - New and improved hang gliding! Attention Novice and beginners! New 360 degree training hill designed and built specifically for you. Conveniently located. Fun! Fun! Fun! Clinch Mtn. - The longest ridge, two launches. The popular light wind indicator Windsok. Brochures available. Your satisfaction is the key to our continued growth and success. Hawk Air Sports, Inc., P.O. Box 9056, Knoxville, TN 37940-0056, (615) 933-9296. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN FLIGHT PARK under Georgia. (800) 688- LMFP.

See our ad

RA VEN SKY SPORTS HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING - Largest and most popular in the Midwest. Traditional curriculum, ridge soaring, mountain clinics, Dragonfly aerotowing & tandems by Brad Kushner. Sales/service/accessories for all major brands. PO Box l OI, Whitewater WI 53190 (4!4) 473-2003. PARTS & ACCESSORIES BALL VARIO - New M50 complete $650. New Tracer pod $250. (205) 859-9835.

SEQUATCHIE VALLEY SOARING SUPPLY -Certified, two place flight instruction and first mountain flights are our specialties. Rentals, storage and ratings available. Dealers for all major brands. Located in the "Hang Gliding Capital of the East". For personal, professional service you can trust, call SYS, RT 2 Box 80, Dunlap, TN 37327. (615) 949-2301 STAY WHERE THE FLIERS STAY - Crystal Air Sport Motel. Private rooms, bunkhouse, jacuzzi, pool. (615) 8212546 Chattanooga, TN. TEXAS A.A.S. AUSTIN AIR SPORTS - Come fly with us in the scenic Texas hill country. Ournew airpark is located on Lake Travis, only minutes from Austin and Packsaddle Mtn. Flight Park. USHGA certified foot-launched and tow-launched training programs. We offer hang gliding, paragliding, sky diving and ultralight flying. Dealers for UP Int'I, Pacific Ai,wave, Enterprise Wings and B.R.S. Austin Air Park has one of the finest repair facilities in the country. Services include: airframe & sail repair, parachute mounting & repacking, custom harnesses, gear bags and flying accessories. Complete tow systems available. Write to: A.A.P., Route 2 Box 49 l, Spiccwood TX 78669 or call Steve Burns at (512) 474-1669.

BIG WHEELS - Saves gliders on hard landings! Very sturdy, excellent for solo/tandem flying, required for USHGA training. $36.95/set (plus shipping), discounts available. (800) 688-LMFP, (706) 398- 354!.

AirCraft! - RED RIVER AIRCRAFT. Turning students into pilots. USHGA certified instruction, new and prcowncd wings and things, towing supplies, full service repair. \Ve'rc hip & cool with MC/Visa. 481 l Red River, Austin TX 7875 l. (512) 467-2529, FAX (512) 467-8260. KITE ENTERPRISES - Instruction, sales, repairs, towing and foot launch. Dallas & North Texas area. 211 Ellis, Allen TX 75002. (2!4) 390-9090 anytime. Dealer, Pacific Airwavc, Wills Wing.

EASY TO USE, TOUGH TO ABUSE - Get instant response and the Litek sound. The E model is available from your full service dealer at only $249 (not incl. Ball clamp) or direct at 503-479-6633 (VISA, MC, AMEXJ. Available in ft/ min or meters/sec dial. Free brochure. LITEK, 4326 Fish Hatchery Road, Grants Pass OR 97527. HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS FLYTEC V ARIOS 45 % OFF! -Limited numberof2000series flight decks, brand new, full factory wananty. Call Carol (510) 490- 4385.

THE FAMOUS '·LAMBIE LID" - Aerodynamic hang glider helmet $85. Full- face version, with kevlar-fiberglass guard S 120. Jack Lambie, 8160 Woodsboro, Anaheim CA 92807, (714) 779-1877.

==--=cc

maxon

SP-2000 Series

NEW IO-CHANNEL PROGRAMMABLE MAXON SP2000-5 watt handheld 2-way radio programmed with three USHGA and three weather frequencies. Durable, rugged, easy to use. Rechargeable nicad battery [typical 8 hour life). Pilots #1 choice' Special price: S349. Additional Maxon options available. Lookout Mountain Flight Park, (800) 688LMFP, (706) 398-3541.

GRADE A SHEEPSKIN - hand fairings. REDESIGNED FOR SUPERIOR COMFORT, with NEW MAP POCKETS standard. Wa1111cst hand fairings in the world. Send $47 to Wyo. Aerolites, PO Box 880, Casper WY 82602. (307) 235- 3367. add $15 for X-largc. Custom orders accepted.

LATEST UVEX HELMETS - Ultra lightweight (one pound). most popular hang gliding helmet, full-face protection, using world's strongest fiber. $299 (plus shipping). discounts available. (800) 688-LMFP, (706) 398-3541.

HIGH PERSPECTIVE WHEELS-REAL LIFE SA VERS! - 12", light, tough. Fits all gliders. Send S37 + S2.95 shipping per pair to Sport Aviation, PO Box 101, /vlingovillc PA 16856. Ask about our dealer prices.

MAXON MOBILES-3 USHGA channclsS295. MAXON 5 watt-3 USHGA channels, I-Ii/Lo power S349. J\IAXON 1 watt-I USHGA channel S190. !COM P2AT-S389. NOHYPOXYGEN III 02 system-5 1/4 lb., 200 liter, S350. UVEX ARAMID full face helmet, l lb. 5 oz., S325. Optional visor, headset/VOX installation. X-C smoke bombs 45 sec., as low as S4. Signal minor S8., Jack-the-Ripper cutaway knife S15., Silva compass $100. Camelbak S40. Pendulum Sports, Inc. 1-800-WE FLY X- C.

PARA-SWIVEL - Don't leave the ground without one' $84.00 + S4.00 S/H. Dealer inquiries welcome. GOLDEN WINGS, 1103 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401 (303) 278-7181. 1-800-677-4449.

HIGH QUALITY HELMET -a tan affordable price. D.O.T. Brushed nylon liner with high strength polycarbonate shell. ONLY S55.00 + S4.00 S/H. Great for schools. GOLDEN WINGS, 1103 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401. (303) 278-7181 or TOLL PREE 1-800-677-4449.

OCTOBER 1992

MINI VARIO - World's smallest, simplest vario! Clips to helmet or chinstrap. 200 hours on batteries, 0-18.000 ft., fast response and 2 year wananty. Great for paragliding too. ONLY $169. Mallettec. PO Box 15756, Santa Ana CA, 92705. (714) 541-2625, Mark Mallett.

QUICK RELEASE CARABINER-S49.95. Extra ball lock pin, $29.00. 10,000 lbs., dealers welcome, patent pending. Thermal 19431-41 Business Center Drive, Northriclgc, CA 91324. (818) 701-7983.

CLASSIFIEDS

THE SENTEK SX DIGITAL ALTIMETER/V ARIOMETER-has the quality and features pilots really need: high accuracy, quick response, ease of operation, reserve battery, a rugged case, and the crisp Scntek audio. $339. Price includes shipping, clamp, 2 year warranty. For info orto order (check or M.O.) write to: SENTEK, 16212 Bothell Way SE, #F252, Mill Creek WA 98012, (206) 338-9149.

SYSTEK II V ARIOMETER - Designed for thermal flying. Hang glider and paraglidcr pilots. Perfect for entry level pilots. Adjustable audio set-point, mount included, other options. Affordable Sl85. Systems Technology Inc. PO Box 7203, Knoxville, TN 37921 (615) 531-8045.

NEW LOW COST XCR-180 -Aluminum cylinder 4lb system provides up to 3 hours constant service, S359.95 XCR-480 (liters), XCR-240, the lightest/lowest cost composite fiber oxygen systems available. Either XCR system, $499.95 Complete ready to install with leak- proof disconnects, Oxymizcr, tlowmetcr/adjuster, remote valve, holsters, lines and hardware. ($15 S/H). l-800-468-8185, (801) 3644171 eves & wknd. Major CC accepted. Mtn High E&S Co., 516 12th Ave., SLC Utah 84103. BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES f.ULL AND PART TIME- USHGA certified instructors. Innovative equipment, the latest training methods. Soaring Safaris. Send resume: Mission Soaring Center, 1116 Wrigley Way, Milpitas CA 95035. (408) 262-1055.

SKY-TALKER II

PUBLICATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS

The Sky-Talker ll, 2 meter FM antenna, will boost the transmitted and received signal by 3 times, and wi!I not interfere with your vario. Internally installs in 5 minutes and automatically sets up and breaks down with the glider. This antenna is pre-tuned and ready to go. Send $30 + $3 shipping and handling to: Sky-Com Products, PO Box 530268, San Diego CA 92153. STOP GETTING RIPPED Of.F -They can't touch this! Save Smail orders. NEW-MAXON SP2000 10 ch. w/tone $339. VOX $99. HAM RADIOS, YAESU FT 41 lE $299. VOX $74. MOD $30., ICOM 2SAT $289. MOD $40. ALINCO DJFIT $285. Dealer for Aircotec Alibi varios, Ball, BRS, High Energy, Safewhecls, V Mitts, Raymond, Second Chantz. Towrope l/4" poly$30per 1000', 3/16" poly $25 per 1000'. Send S.A.S.E. forsaleflyerorcall Kentuckiana Soaring, 425 Taggart Ave., Clarksville IN 47129 (812) 2887111 Calls returned collect. SUPRONE HARNESS $250 (505) 275- 2350.

New condition with all options.

Due to production schedules, we work two months in advance. Please place your ad early to avoid missing a particular issue.

DON'T GET CAUGHT LANDING DOWNWIND! 1.5 oz. ripstop nylon, UV treated, 5'4" long w/11" throat. Available colors: fluorescent pink/yellow or fluorescent pink/ white. $39.95 (+$4.00 S/H). Send to USHGA Windsok, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs. CO 80933-8300, (719) 6328300, f.AX (719) 632-6417. VISA/MC accepted.

Sell your unused equipment with the help of a Hang Gliding classified ad. For more details call Jeff (719) 632-8300.

PARAGLIDING BOOKS- WALKING ON AIRPARAGLIDING f.LIGHT by Dennis Pagen & PARAGLIDING-A PILOT'S TRAINING MANUAL by Mike Meier (Wills Wing). SI 9.95 each +S4 S/H, available through USHGA, see misc. for details. PARAGLIDE USA- Subscribe to North America's most widely read paragliding magazine. 12 issues just $25. Send check or money order to 425 Rider St., Ste. 87, Perris CA 92571 or call (714) 657-2664 or rAX (714) 657-4062 with your credit card information. PRACTICAL WA VE FLYING - Mountain wave flying book for soaring pilots. Includes valuable information for hang glider pilots. $14.95. Quantity discounts available. Lenticular Publishing, PO Box 3842, Englewood CO 801553842. SOARING- Monthly magazine of The Soaring Society of America, Inc. Covers all aspects of soaring flight. Full membership $45. Info. kit with sample copy $3. SSA, P.O. Box E, Hobbs, NM 8824 l. (505) 392-1177. HANG GLIDING

CLASSIFIEDS TOWING AIRCRAFT - From Red River. Towing supplies, bridles, releases, recovery chutes, platforms and more. (512) 4672529. TOW ROPES - Make the move to quality. Spectra-proven state-of-the- an tow rope. Available with fiber bonding synthetic finish, longer lasting, easy to use hollow braid. Trade in your ultraline' Call David F. Bradley (215) 7231719 or fax (215) 453-1515.

This is the one II

Un~aver By Golden Wings

) ~

Tow line recove,y System Nothing attached to pilot or bridle. UNLIKE OTHER SYSTEMS - no deployment mechanism is required. fully self actuating when tow line is released. Reduces wear on line & rewind motor. Reduces tum around time. Two sizes. S125/S l 35 incl. shipping. Check or money order. Also available, 3/16" braided Kcvaler GOLDLINE towline, S109 per l .000 feet. Golden Wings. 1103 \Vashington Ave., Golden CO. 1-800-677-4449 WILL NOT LAST LONG 1! -Complete ATOL type truck towing system. Used for over 500 safe tows. Includes vehicle. automatic pilot release, rmd 5000' of line. System is in Delaware. Best cash offer over $700! ! (415) 323-7689. VIDEOS & FILMS CENTRAL AMERICA 0\/ SI O! -Safari Sky Tours comes into your home, school or club with a new promotional video produced by Paul Hamilton and Adventure Video. Discover what it's all about. Mail SID cash to: John Olson/Safari Sky Tours, Box 58 I, Cty.stal Bay NV, 89402. Include return address. DARE DEVIL FLYERS Ill-THE PARAGLIDERS - As seen on Prime Sports Network. Paraglide in scenic Telluride, Colorado. $24.95 HAWAllAN FL YIN'- Soar Hawaii and experience its beauty as only a hang Glider pilot can. $33.00. HANG GLIDING EXTREME - Hook in and hang on for this whirlwind tour of the most spectacular sites in the US. $34.95 USHGA VIDEOS, PO Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933. Be sure to add $4 S/H. (719) 632-8300. MISCELLANEOUS MAPS 7885.

DON'T LEAVE YOUR GROUND-BOUND EQUIPi'v!ENT SITTING IN THE GARAGE. SELL IT IN THE HANG GLIDING CLASSIFIEDS.

STOLEN CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES The rate for classificd advertising is S.50 per word (or group of characters) and S 1.00 per word for bold or all caps. ~vlinimum ad charge, SS.00. A fee of SIS.OD is charged for each line art logo and $25.00 for each photo. Please underline words to be in bold print. Special layouts of tabs S25.00 per column inch. AD DEADLINES All ad copy. instructions, changes, ad<lilions and cancellations must be received in writing I 1/2 months preceding the cover date, i.e. October 20 for the December issue. Please make checks payable to USHGA Classified Adve,tising Dept. HANG GLIDING MAGAZINE, P.O. Box 8300, Colorado Springs, CO 80933 (719) 632-8300 or FAX (719) 632-6417. STOLEN WINGS STOLEN - AXIS 15 & flight gear, Paisley, OR (near Lakeview, OR) on 9/6/92. lllue LE, all white sail, rainbow UP letters. i\laxon 5-watt 6-channel, Ball 651 w/ airspeed, blue Keller pod harness w/ parachute, Jlell helmet. Contact: Robin Ritter (503) 389-3899. STOLEN - Vision ,Vlk IV 19, late August in Seattle, WA. Black LE, yellow wedge on top surface, white TE, yellow wedge (w/blue) on bottom. Jerry McCown (206) 5262793. STOLEN - While in Carson City, NV mid July 1992. Moyes Tracer harness, Flytec 30/20 vario, Bell open face helmet, 20 gore PDA chute. Contact Mike Cruse: (Austnllia) 011-613-416-0018 fax, 011- 613-416-2308 phone. RECOVERED - Blue/gray WW flight bag, complete. Supposedly found in the Owens. Must positively ID, call Tom ( 707) 224-7 390. STOLEN - While in Santa Fe, NM over the 199 l holidays. WILLS WING 223 PARAGLIDER, serial# 21003. Puqilc w/gray & pink (canopy only). Gray Wills Wing bag w/rcd stripe. APCO A YIATION HILITE 3 23, serial # 857486. Flour. yellow w/green (canopy only). Yellow & pink Apco bag. APCO AVIATION JETSTREAM HARNESS-NEW, turquoise blue w/tlour. yellow storage bags and pink base in turquoise & tlour. yellow bag, size medium, serial #433. Free Flight PDA 20 gore chute. #10558. Brown leather gloves. red UVEX downhill ski helmet. AIRCOTEC Alibi 11 #4425. KELLER INTEGRAL HARNESS, well used. Pink w/lavender, size 150-170, w/18 gore PDA chute. Orange freeflight helmet, gray Calgary 88 go11cx gloYes, Patagonia jacket-red with blue lining, w/Wills Wing on the back. And other nonHG items. Willi Muller, (403) 932-6760, FAX (403) 9326760. LOST- Blue High Energy Pod, PDA parachute, full-face carbon fiber helmet, at Ed Levin Park, Milpitas CA. Please call Alan Kenny (408) 942-1773. POUND -Alti-Vario, al Ed Levin during the 1991 Silent Airshow. Must identify! (916)452-0787 work & home. (CA)

Largest selection in US. Map Store, 1-800-332-

CLEARANCE-USHGA SCRA!l1BLE KNIT SWEATER - lOO'lc cotton, natural color, embroidered Mtn. Glider design. Available in Crew or V Neck, sizes S, lv1, L, XL. Regularly $39.95-CLEARANCE PRICED $29.95 (plus $4 S/H). USHGA, ordering info. see below.

OCTOBER 1992

attached to Applied Air Research ELA PS rocket deployment system. Also taken was briefcase containing log books (and other items). Mike Heilman (808) 638-5543.

WW Z-3 HARNESS - SANTA ANA CA Stolen from car in Grand Ave area. Wills Wings Z-3 gray & red cordura hmness bag with the follmving contents Z-3 harness, elcc. blue w/ plain gray side panels, serial# l 70; Kenwood TH27A ham radio (w/broken antenna) serial# 21100746; Litck V-12 vario & Cloudbasc 1350 altimeter; white Bell helmet; pink & white 22 gore parachute w/ red bridle and paraswivcl,

Pac Air Formula. Pink LE, black to pink to gray

unc.lcr.surracc. UP cocoon harness, black w/pink stripes. Ball Vario. Scott Meehleib (619) 295-1261. LOST- Battens on June 8th, 1991, near White Cliffs Beach, Plymouth MA. Call Donald Saccone (617) 857-1031 wk. DREAM 220 - Blue LE, wavy rainbow pattern. Front lo back red, blue, green, white, red, purple white. Dark green bag. Taken from LZ near San Jacinto College, San Jacinto CA (Soboba flying site) on 8/10/91. Call (800) 734-0622 STOLEN ON 7/19/91 - From a car in Hollywood, CA Knee-hanger harness, green with a ··r-instuwalder label; white parachute mounted in red pocket. Reiner Kaiser. 7848 Manchester #1, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293 (213) 823-7383 WW Z-2 HARNESS - Navy blue with red/white/blue striped. BRS & hand deployed parachute. Roberts vario. Taken at Owens Valley (JanicsJ /\fay 25th, 1991. $100 Reward (714) 677-6065 leave message STOLEN WINGS are listed as a service to USHGA membcrs. Newest entries arc in bold. There is no charge for this service and lost and found wings or equipment may be called in to (719) 632-8300 for inclusion in Hang Gliding magazine. Please call to cancel the listing when gliders arc recovered. Periodically, this listing will be purged.

INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Adventure Video .............................. 63 Air Sports International ...................... 3 AirW ear Sports ................................. 63 AirWorks .......................................... 50 Ball Varios .................................. 18,59 Bradley Co . ...................................... 38 Brauniger .......................................... 19 BRS .................................................... 9 Cross Country Magazine .................. 42 Hall Bros. .. ....................................... 48 High Energy Sports .......................... 21 Lookout Mt. Flight Park ................... 50 Mountain Condo ........................... ,.. 48 Pacific Airwave ................. Back Cover Paragliding Magazine ....................... 59 Reel Altitude .................................... 48 Safari Sky Tours ............................... 11 Sequatchie Valley Soaring ............... 27 Sport Aviation Publications ............. 63 TBT .................................................. 21 UP International ............................... 43 U.S. Aviation .................................... 12 USHGA .............................. 2,4,6,34,46 Wills Wing ....................................... 22

RATINGS SAFE PILOT AW ARDS BRONZE MICHAEL BALK ROBERT BOOLUKOS ROBERT GOODMAN TYRONE HILDRETH MELANIE STAR MIDDLETON JORDAN VOELKER JAMESYARES

SILVER LARRY HUFFMAN

LILIENTHAL AW ARDS BRONZE ERIC GAGNON SUE MCGRATH G. STEPHEN CHARLTON JORDAN VOELKER JAMESYARES

SILVER MARK NEISSER LORENSTORLA LYNDON THOMAS

GOLD

Region 3 BRACKETT, DAVID: N. Hollywood, CA; A. Beem/Windsports Int'! CICCHESE, NICOLE: San Bernardino, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure DIXON, KEVIN: Huntington Bch, CA; D. Skadal/Hang Flight Systems DURAND, LOUIS: N. Hollywood, CA; A. Beem/Windsports Int'! GILBERTSON, STEVE: Watsonville, CA; J. Woodward/Natural Flying GILBERTSON, JAMES: Watsonville, CA; J. Woodward/Natural Flying KOMP, MIKE: Santa Barbara, CA; K. DeRussy/Hang Glider Emporium LEMPEREUR, YVES: Westlake Village, CA; G. Reeves/Windsports NABINGER, JERRY: Garden Grove, CA; P. Burns/Windgypsy ORCHOLSKI, BRIAN: San Diego, CA; J. Ryan/HG Center of SD SHAW, PAUL: Temecula, CA; P. Burns/Windgypsy SPURGEON, MIKE: Pioneer Town, CA; P. Burns/Windgypsy ZEMOUDEL, KAY: San Bernardino, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure Region 7 DOROGI, MICHAEL: Vollonia, IN; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP GIBBONS, RICHARD: Fraser, MI; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP JOHNSON, ERIC: Douglas, MI; A. Mantas/Spectrum KOLLINGER, ERICH: Effingham, IL; R. Jacob/SYS LEE, MICHAEL: Madison, WI; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports LILLEY, DANIEL: Indianapolis, IN; J. Eckhardt/Kitty Hawk Kites MARSHALL, LINDA: Minneapolis, MN; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP RINKER, LARRY: Bloomington, IN; J. Eckhardt/Kitty Hawk Kites SCIARROTTA, DOREEN: Fraser, MI; J. Hooks/Lookout Mtn FP TAYLOR, MARK: Shanee, KS; L. Haney/Sail Wings HG Region 8 STOECKER, GARY: Greenwich, CT; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP WILSON, PATRICIA: Granby, CT; K. Gurskis/CHGA

LAWREN CE CHAMBLEE

DIAMOND GEORGE REEVES

BEGINNER RATINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region I BEST, DAVID: Kirkland, WA; T. Johns/Cascade Soaring COELS, JUERGEN: Thousand Oaks, CA; G. Reeves/Windsports Int'! GILBERTSON, GIL: Grants Pass, OR; W. Roberts HAUGEN, ORV: Kennewick, WA; J. Asher/Endless Thermal KAUFMAN, ROBERT: Medford, OR; W. Roberts/Southern OR HG LOFTESNESS, DARREN: Clatskanie, OR; J. Asher/Endless Thermal MCRARY, JERRY: Longview, WA; J. Asher/Endless Thermal NYGREN, PETER: Bellingham, WA; M. Lipscomb Region 2 BUODER, GAVIN: Berkeley, CA; B. Ream/Mission Soaring Center CARPENTER, LARRY: San Francisco,CA; R. Frey/Airtime of SF COLLARD, STEPHEN: San Bruno, CA; P. Denevan/Mission Soaring CONNELL, MICHAEL: San Jose, CA; P. Denevan/Mission Soaring EDWARDS, BRUCE: Palo Alto, CA; R. Spear/Airtime of SF FERGUSON, JOSH: Mill Valley, CA; D. Murphy/Chandelle FIFIELD, TERRY: Central Valley, CA; G. Pollock/Wasatch Wings GORNICKI, STELLA: Livermore, CA; J. Woodward/Natural Flying KELSEY, JIM: San Francisco, CA; R. Frey/Airtime of SF KERLAGON, JEFF: Hayward, CA; R. Frey/Airtime of SF LYMAN, THOM: Carson City, NV; D. Zmrzel/Adventure Sports ODA, WILL: San Francisco, CA; A. Whitehill/Chandelle SF PORTER, JERRY: Sunnyvale, CA; D. Yount READ, STEVE: Fremont, CA; P. Denevan/Mission Soaring Center SMALL, CHRISTOPHER: Berkeley, CA; R. Frey/Airtime of SF STEINER, PHILIP: San Jose, CA; J. Woodward/Natural Flying TAFF, LESLIE: Woodland, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure TEGETHOFF, ALAN: San Jose, CA; D. Yount TRIBE, RANDOLPH: San Jose, CA; P. Denevan/Mission Soaring

Region 9 BODNAR, MILES: Langhorne, PA; J. Miller/Wind Spirit HG CREW, KENNETH: Lynchburg, VA; B. Weaver/Kitty Hawk Kites DESIDERIO, ERIK: McLean, VA; B. Weaver/Kitty Hawk Kites ETTRIDGE, TIMOTHY: Oakton, VA; D. Glover/Kitty Hawk Kites GUET, BOBBY: Lewisburg, WV; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP KRIEL, EDWIN: Monkton, MD; B. Weaver LIVELSBERGER, GALE: York, PA; B. Vaughn/Mountain Wings MORTON, DA VE: Burke, VA; T. Webster/Kitty Hawk Kites STEINMEIER, TORI: Baltimore, MD; R. Coxon THORNTON, GREGORY: Kill Devil Hills, NC; J. Eckhardt/Kitty Hawk Region 10 BELMONTE, WALTER: Ecuestre Carolina, PR; R. Rojas/Carribean Air CLARK, JAMES: Jonesboro, GA; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP HOLLOWAY, JIM: Smyrna, TN; J. Hooks/Lookout Mtn FP PERRINE, J.B.: Birmingham, AL; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP PISTORIUS, STEPHEN: Smyrna, GA; J. Hooks/Lookout Mtn FP RADER, TOM: Knoxville, TN; H. Amal/Kitty Hawk Kites REID, SAMUEL: Murfreesboro, TN; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP ZORN, JACK: Charlotte, NC; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP Region 11 CANVILLE, PHILLIP: Houston, TX; F. Burns/Austin Air Sports FICHTEL, TODD: New Orleans, LA; J. Eckhardt/Kitty Hawk Kites HANSON, SCOTT: Spring, TX; F. Burns/Austin Air Sports KLIEM, AARON: Houston, TX; F. Burns/Austin Air Sports PETERSEN, ARMAND: Dallas, TX; J. Hooks/Lookout Mtn FP TROLINDER, KAREN: Austin, TX; J. Hunt/Red River Air Region 12 ABU-HAIDAR, SUMAYA: Millbrook, NY; B. Vaughn/Mountain Wings FEDOROFF, SERGE: Montclair, NJ; J. Eckhardt/Kitty Hawk Kites GROWICH, BILL: Stony Point, NY; B. Vaughn/Mountain Wings JUDGE, RUSSELL: Newton, NJ; \V. Vaughn/Mountain Wings KOZMA, MICHAEL: Glen Rock, NJ; T. Webster/Kitty Hawk Kites LITTLE, MARK: North Hoosick, NY; G. Crowe/Morningside Flight Park MARX, JOE: Magbrook NY; W. Vaughn/Mountain Wings MATTNIJSSEN, SCOTT: Long Valley, NJ; B. Vaughn/Mountain Wings PFOHL, ROBERT: Syracuse, NY; D. Guido/Susquehanna FP

HANG GLIDING

Be 111/brmetl I

\\\\.II 4f'1~ /"I~ AA~4~ifl"• -

3314 w. 11400 s.

Subscriptions: $26/year U.S. $36 Canada - $44 overseas Back Issues: $5.00 each - All back issues available starting with July 1990.

South Jordan, Utah 84065 Bus 801-254-7455 • Fax 801-254-7701

News of the APA • Techniques • Safety • New Products • Glider Reviews • Competition News • European Undate •Who's Who • Facts & Figures

fit!/ Color Mt1/t1Z1'!te

RATINGS ROMERO, DARREN: Newburgh, NY; B. Vaughn/Mountain Wings ROUX, MICHAEL: Binghamton, NY; B. Vaughn/Mountain Wings SCHMIDT, JOHN: Fairport, NY; R. McGovern/Rochester Area Flyers SUISSA, MEIR: Staten Island, NY; B. Vaughn/Mountain Wings VEENSTRA, JACK: Rochester, NY; R. McGovern/Rochester Area Flyers WOERNER, RAYMOND: Canandaigua, NY; P. Shultz/RAF

NOVICE RATINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region I BROWN, PAUL: Snoqualmie Pass, WA; R. Brown/Airplay'n GEISLER, JOHN: Susqualmie, WA; R. Gelfam/Dreamflights HART, ALEX: Bothell, WA; R. Gelfan/Dreamflights KAUFMANN, ROBERT: Medford, OR; W. Roberts/So. OR HG KEE, MICHAELL: Everett, WA; J. Gamer/Rockys Flight School MORTIMER, CHUCK: Bellingham, WA; T. Johns/Cascade Soaring Region 2 ACTON, STEVE: Big Pine, CA; K. Klinefelter/Owens Valley Soaring DILLON, KIRK: S. Lake Tahoe, CA; D. Zmrzel/Aclventure Sports HERRICK, MICHAEL: Los Gatos, CA; D. Yount/Mission Soaring HURLESS, PAUL: Cupertino, CA; B. Ream KINGSLEY, JIM: Alexandrea, VA; W. Foffest/Blue Sky LOAN, DARYL: Alameda, CA; D. Murphy/Chandelle SF LUTE, KELLY: San Jose, CA; W. Ostiguy/Western Hang Gliders MACIAS, MARK: San Francisco, CA; R. Frey/Airtime of SF RAZDOBREEV, PETE: San Carlos, CA; D. Yount/Mission Soaring ROBERTS, DAVID: San Francisco, CA; R. Frey/Airtime of SF SHEEHY, BRIAN: Berkeley, CA; S. Seebass/Berkeley HG STEINER, PHILIP: San Jose, CA; J. Woodward/Natural Flying TAFF, LESLIE: Woodland, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure VOELKER, JORDAN: San Jose, CA; J. Woodward/Natural Flying WENDELN, JOE: San Jose, CA; D. Yount/Mission Soaring Center WENZEL, CHRIS: San Ramon, CA; D. Yount/Mission Soaring Center Region 3 CICCHESE, NICOLE: San Bernardino, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure DALLAS, ROBERT: Bellflower, CA; G. Reeves/Windsports Int'l DIXON, KEVIN: Huntington Bch, CA; D. Skadal/Hang Flight Systems DURAND, LOUIS: N. Hollywood, CA; A. Beem/Windsports Int'l ELERSICH, RICH: Quartz Hill, CA; A. Beem/Windsports Int'l FREEMAN, TREY: Calabasas, CA; D. Quackenbush/True Flight Concepts KING, MICHAEL: Fallbrook, CA; R. Mitchell KOMP, MIKE: Santa Barbara, Ca; K. DeRussy/Hang Glider Emporium LEIGH, RANDAL: Los Angeles, CA; G. Reeves/Windspmts Int'l LEMPEREUR, YVES: Westlake Village, CA; A. Beem/Windsports Int'l MC CARTY, KEVIN: Long Beach, CA; A. Beem/Winclsports Int'l ORCHOLSKI, BRIAN: San Diego, CA; J. Ryan/HG Center of SD PECOR, ROBERT: Irvine, CA; S. Foerster ROBISON, JIM: Arleta, CA; M. Spinelli/True Flight Concepts WADE, DOUGLAS: Castak, CA; G. Reeves/Winclsports Int'l ZEMOUDEL, KAY: San Bernardino, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure

EVANS, GARRY: Arlington Hts, IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports FOO, WEI LENG: Slinger, WI; B. Kushne1}Raven Sky Sports GIBBONS, RICHARD: Fraser, MI; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP MEINE, EDWARD: Lisle, IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports REWOLINSKI, STEVEN: Milwaukee, WI; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports Region 9 BODNAR, MILES: Langhorne, PA; J. Miller/Wind Spirit HG DEVEREUX, NICK: Alexandria, VA; P. Harper/Sequatchie Valley GRISSOM, MIKE: Piqua, OH; G. Evans/Lookout Mtn FP GUET, BOBBY: Lewisburg, WV; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP KELLY, SEAN: Wilmington, DE; H. Amal KILMER, RANDY: Bellefonte, PA; D. Gearhart/Windwalker HG MCALLISTER, JOHN: Winchester, VA; R. Jacob/Sequatchie Valley O'BRIEN, WILLY: Morgantown, WV; T. Webster/Kitty Hawk Kites OVERSTREET, KEITH: Bedford, VA; J. Eckhardt/Kitty Hawk Kites RENWICK, DEWAYNE: Apollo, PA; J. Hostler/Min Top Recreation ROBINSON, DALE: Wilmington, DE; B. Umstattd SCHULTZ, JAMES: Pittstown, NJ; D. Gearhart/Winclwalker HG SCHUMANN, PETER: Falls Church, VA; J. Middleton/Silver Wings SOULLIARD, CHARLES: Lebanon, PA; D. Gearhart/Windwalker HG TSHUDY, WAYNE: Annville, PA; D. Gearhart/Windwalker HG Region 10 BELMONTE, WALTER: Ecuestre Carolina, PR; R. Rojas/Carribean Air COSSABOON, RODNEY: Ft Walton Bch, FL; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP GOOLSBY, KIRK: Columbia, MD; B. Weaver/Kitty Hawk Kites HERNANDEZ, EDGAR: Rio Piedras, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports HERNANDEZ, MELVIN: Hato Rey, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports LEWIS, KEVIN: Merritt Island, FL; T. Braden/Sky Hook Hang Gliding MADOLE, CRAIG: Huntsville, AL; R. Patterson/Rocket City Airsports MONTANEZ, IGNACIO: Rio Hondo Bayamon, PR; R. Rojas/CaiTibean Air PERRINE, J.B.: Birmingham, AL; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP RODRIGUEZ, MICHAEL: Santurce, PR; R. Rojas/Carribean Airsports ZORN, JACK: Charlotte, NC; C. Thoreson/Lookout Mtn FP Region 11 AZZARELLO, TERESA: Houston, TX; F. Bums/Austin Air Sports HANSON, SCOTT: Spring, TX; F. Burns/Austin Air Sports KLIEM, AARON: Houston, TX; F. Burns/Austin Air Sports LISTI, JOHN: Houston, TX; F. Burns/Austin Air Sports ROSS, HUGH: Dallas, TX; D. Broyles/Kite Enterprises UPSHAW, JOHN: Claude, TX; R. Kenney/Prairie Hang Gliding WONG, WAH: Houston, TX; F. Burns/Austin Air Sports Region 12 CASPER, BERT: Johnson City, NY; B. Vaughn/Mountain Wings MULLER, WILLIAM: Warwick, NY; B. Vaughn/Mountain Wings VAN DEN DORPEL, JAN: New York, NY., B. Vaughn/Mountain Wings WOLSKI, ANDRZEJ: Rochester, NY; P. Shultz/Rochester Area Flyers ZISKROUT, JAY: New York, NY; B. Vaughn/Mountain Wings

INTER MEDIA TE RA TINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School

Region 4 BAUERS, JOE: Pueblo, CO; R. Wilkinson/Eagles Nest School CULL, BOB: Hotchkiss, CO; G. Pollock/Wasatch Wings FOLEY, WILLIAM: Albuquerque, NM; C. Woods/UP Over NM GONZALEZ, DEAN: Colorado Springs, CO; R. Wilkinson/Eagle's Nest HINSHAW, JEFF: Hill AFB, UT; K. Stowe{Windricler KAESTNER, PATRICK: Tempe, AZ; B. Holmes/Sky Sails of AZ NEIMAN, JOHN: Aspen, CO; G. Pollock/Wasatch Wings SAUNDERS, BETSY: Crested Butte, CO; K. Stowe/UP Soaring THOMASON, MICHAEL: Provo, UT; K. Stowe/Winclrider Region 7 BLAIR, ANDREW: Urbana, IL; B. Kushner/Raven Sky Sports BOYANOWSKI, PAUL: Allenpark, MI; B. Fifer/Traverse City HG DOROGI, MICHAEL: Vollonia, IN; G. Evans/Lookout Mtn FP

Region I HILDRETH, TYRONE: Medford, OR; M. Stevenson KALMAN, RICH: Olympia, WA; 1. Reynolds/Capital City HG MCCOWN, JERRY: Seattle, WA; R. Gelfan/Dream Flights WEATHERMAN, RANDY: Renton, WA; R. Berger Region 2 BRAINARD, ERIC: San Francisco, CA; J. Greenbaum/Airtime of SF DUTTON, BRIAN: Fremont, CA; B. Ream/Mission Soaring Center GILL, GORDON: San Jose, CA; R. Canham KARLAK, BRIAN: Berkeley, CA; S. Scebass/Berkeley HG ROBINSON, TODD: Santa Rosa, CA; T. Kurth SAUNDERS, NORMA: San Geronimo, CA; A. Whitehill

HANG GLIDING

RATINGS Region 3 ARDITO, JOE: Redlands. CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure BLATT, NICOLE: Redlands, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure EISAGUIRRE, LEW: Beverly Hills, CA; M. Spinelli{frue Flight PETROVICK, GARY: San Bernardino, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure PRUESS, JERE: Lake Forest, CA; D. Skadal/Hang Flight Systems ROBERTS, BILL: Cucamonga, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure SANNER, WILLIS: Lemon Grove, CA; W. Henry{forrey Flight Park WILKERSON, MIKE: Ojai, CA; F Vachss/fopa Flyers

Region 3 BROWN, MORRIS: Chatsworth, CA; lvl. Spinelli/True Flight Concepts CLEY, TRACY: Honolulu, HI; M. Benson/fradewinds HG HOOVER, BRIAN: Manhattan Bch, CA; J. Bylin/Syhnar HG Assn JACOBSON, STEVEN: Westminster, CA; P. Burns/Windgypsy KNOX, GEORGE: Lawai, HI; D. Darling NAGY, BOB: San Bernardino, CA; R. McKenzie/High Adventure SHORTT, CARL:Hawaii Kai, HI; D. King STORLA, LAUREN: Las Vegas, NV; A. Sparks

Region 4 MCCLAIN, RIC: Aspen, CO; J. Simmons/Ivory Eagle SMITH, ORRIN: Tucson, AZ; M. Stockwell STILES, DOUG: Phoenix, AZ; J. Reynolds/Air-Zone-A Towsters YOCUM, TOM: Snowmass, CO: J. Simmons/Ivory Eagle Soaring

Region 4 FOWLER, JERRY: Tucson, AZ; T. Barton/UP International GOSS, MARTY: Boulder, CO; R. Goclman/Ultralight Flight Service HALEY, DENNIS: Durango, CO; B. Thompson/Desert HG NEWMAN, CRAIG: Flagstaff, AZ; S. Mish/Bandito Action Sports

Region 5 IZETT, CORY: Whitefish, MT: L Strom/Spokane Air Craft

Region 8 GRAVES, LARRY: New Britain, CT; K. Gurskis/CHGA

Region 7 GUADAGNOLI, JOSEPH: Schaumburg, IL; J. Mitehell/JJ Mitchell HG TIERNEY, TOM: Ellettsville, IN; B. Bryden/Kentuckiana Soaring WAHL, STEPHEN: Lanesville, IN; B. Bryden/Kentuekiana Soaring

Region 9 FAY, ALAN: Altoona, PA; T. Johnson

Region 8 BERTANG, LIZ: Harminton, CT; D. Williams/Conn. HG BURGHARDT, PETER: Brighton, MA; G. Crowe/Morningside Flight Park HILLMAN, LORENA: Billerica, MA; J. Porter LINTON, BARRY: Salem, MA; J. Nicolay/Morningside FP Region 9 CARROLL, JAMES: King of Prussia, PA; N. Price SCHULTZ, CHRIS: Lexington, KY; J. Reynolds/Lookout Mtn FP WILLOUGHBY, JODY: Berwyn Heights, MD; W. Kautter/Capital HG

Region 10 MELING, GEIR: .t,.,[iami, FL; J. Tindle/Miami Hang Gliding Region 11 BAUMGARTNER, DONN: Austin, TX; S. Burns/Austin Air Sports Region 12 DE TAR, ANDREW: Cragsmoor, NY; P. Voight KEATING, WILLIAM: Montville, NJ; P. Voight/Fly High Hang Gliding SUNDAY, JOSEPH: Ringwood, NJ; P. Voight/Fly High Hang Gliding

MASTER RATINGS Region 10 FONTANEZ, EDWIN: Augas Bucnas, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports GLOVER, BRONSON: Cleveland, TN; C. Whitney/SVS HARSH, BRENT: Apex, NC; B. Goodman/Blue Ridge HG PEARSON, FRED: Signal Mtn, TN; R. Jacob/SVS RODRIGUEZ, PEDRO: Rio Piedras, PR; R. Rojas/Caribbean Airsports Region 11 CLARK, TOM: Austin, TX; J. Hunt/Red River Aircraft FRANK, ANDY: Austin, TX; J. Hunt/Red River Aircraft JORDAN, BRETT: Canyon, TX; C. Drozda/LO Enterprises Region 12 HOCHERMAN, ADAM: New Brunswick, NJ; G. Black/Mountain Wings KLIMCHAK, LINDA: Greenwich, CT; G. Black/Mountain Wings SIENKIEWYCZ, ROBERT: Hamilton, NY: R. Clark/Susquehanna FP THOMAS, ERIK: APO, AA; A. Whitehill/Chandelle HG

MICHAEL TRYON

FOREIGN RA TINGS BEGINNER: HOLAN, MAGDA: Caracas, Venezuela; M. Gates/OHGA/FLAP NIELLA, REINALDO: Asuncion, Paraguay; R. Rojas/Caribbean Air NOVICE: HIXSON, TODD: Victoria, BC; K. DeRussy/Hang Glider Emporium NIELLA, REINALDO: Asuncion, Paraguay; R. Rojas/Caribbean Air INTERMEDIATE: ROMERO, JAVIER: Republica De Panama; R. Rojas/Caribbean Air

TANDEM ONE RATINGS ADVANCED RATINGS PILOT: City, State; Instructor/School Region 1 GARNER, JAMES: Marysville, WA; D. Fox SPIERING, JAMES: Forest Grove, OR; R. Berger SWINGLE, ALLEN: Beaverton, OR; R. Berger/OR HG Assn

STEVEN BLAND JIM BRADDOCK BRAD KINCHELOE DAVID KINCHELOE BOB MCKENZIE ROBERT PELLETIER

Region 2 FINCH, JOHN: Foster City, CA; P. Hystek KRANZ, ROBERT: Lake Almanos, CA; P. Gadd/Cloud Street Gang MINTUN, DAVID: Stockton, CA; W. Brown ~ SAHL, DAVID: Modesto, CA; K. Muscio TIERNEY, MIKE: Santa Rosa, CA; T. Kurth/SLOSA

0COTBER 1992

ST. PAUL, MINN. -- Pacific Airwave is using an old but proven promotion (as the Electra Flyer company once did) . They plan a "class contest," a concept used in several sports. Such meets require a large number of the same model and PacAir' s Vision qualifies. Bos~ Ken Brown notes, "Recognizing the success of fleet racing that sailing has made so popular, we are beginning a fun event... the Vision Classic." He adds that many of their dealers have suggested and support this plan. Details are still being finalized, but dates have been set: Oct 1 7-18 in Ellenville, NY (host: Mountain Wings); Oct 24-25 in Chattanooga (Lookout Mountain); Oct 31-Nov 1 at Nags Head (Kitty Hawk); a date in February in San Diego (Hang Gliding Center); and Mar 6-7 at Milpitas (Mission Soaring & Airtime) . The contest is aimed at those who generally don't compete, with tasks being duration, spot landings, and possibly a pylon course. They' 11 also offer tuning and safety seminars. PacAir will host a barbecue at each location. To get the latest on this fun flying program, call PacAir at 408/422-2299 or call any of the dealerships mentioned. ••· A Hang Glider Dealers Meeting is scheduled at Mission Soaring on October 7th, a timely event near the fall meeting of the USHGA board of directors (which should allow some eastern dealers to participate). The Bay area shop will be busy that month, with an Instructor's course held a few days earlier. Contact Mission at 408/2621055. ••• Wills Wing has achieved noteworthy success at telling the general aviation world about paragliding and hang gliding. They've managed two stories in the AOPA (Aircraft Owners & Pilots Ass' n) magazine, AOPA Pilot. The journal is only circulated to members of AOPA; you can't buy it any other way. But nearly 300,000 members will see the story in the aviation world's second largest magazine (Flying has about 15% greater circulation) . Famous writer, Richard Bach, flew a paraglider and wrote a story for the AOPA magazine that consumed a generous nine pages in full color. Next, Eric Fair will prepare a hang gliding story for the magazine with a short piece from a magazine editor who went tandem with Rob McKenzie. Attaboy, Wills! • • • Now convincingly the largest of U.S. manufacturers, Wills is preparing to celebrate its 20-year anniversary in February '93. Only one other builder ever reached this mark (Delta Wing, which closed soon after). •••Acting a distributor for Free

Flight Enterprises, Wills offers a new size PDA emergency 'chute, a 24 gore, tested at 450 pounds. This new, tandem-capable canopy is part of the FFE line that includes a 20, 22, and 24 gore PDA (retail: $480, $500, and $545). The 'chute maker has dropped their 18 gore model because they feel "too many pilots are making the choice of size based on cost and weight, as opposed to safety." This concern is echoed by most parachute builders. Interest continues to grow slowly but surely for various electronic gizmos that aim to help you find the ever-elusive thermal. Doctor pave promotes his Thermal Rider in a descriptive piece of literature. The "black box" appears to be a sophisticated instrument performing a simple task. Succinctly stated, " [it] detects minute differences in air temperature across the wingspan, helping you to identify lift and sink, beyond the ability of human perception or a variometer." By audio and a small visual display the Thermal Rider identifies the air temperature trend you have encountered over a 20-second period, providing a general steer from cooler to warmer air. Another indicator gets more specific and, by comparing air at each tip, helps you decide which way you must turn to enter a region of warmer air (hopefully thermal lift). The $399 device (intro priced at $220) can be ordered by calling 301/474-3095 or fax 474-0805. Ask for their leaflet. ,,, A couple relocations as we close. Bob and Gayle Schutte (Schutte Sails) have left Seedwings and Moyes, respectively. Bob will take, "a good position in a family business ... I could not refuse." He will continue with his sailmaking in a loft he plans to construct. Meanwhile Gayle is vacating her role as office manager of Moyes California. "[I'm] sad to leave and will miss everyone," says Gayle. "Working with Moyes was fun and rewarding. I wish Moyes California good luck." The two also represent France's Cross Country magazine and sell the Swiss Swing paraglider line. , , • After a notable eight years with Kitty Hawk Kites, Steve Wendt plans to open his own hang gliding shop in central Virginia, near the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Wendt will call it Blue Sky and will feature tandem towing instruction. Steve brings his experience at KHK and will offer a full schedule of events throughout the year. FMI: 703/432-6557. Outta room. So, got news or opinions? Send 'em to: 8 Dorset, St. Paul MN 55118. Fax or message to 612/450-0930. THANKS!

HANG GLIDING

What's In A Harness

ACTION VIDEOS

HANG GLID1NG ~ 6

FLY CROSS COUNTRY, DO 13./\LLOON DROPS, COMPETE, PARAGLIDE, TRUCK TOW AND HEAR FROM THE PROFESSIONALS WHO BREAK WORLD RECORDS. GO TO YOSEMITE, OWENS VALLEY, AND TORREY PINES, CALIFORNIA; LAKEVIEW, OREGON; TELLURIDE/PARIDOX, COLORADO. CLOUDBASE 3 IS INFORMATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING FOR EVERYONE. VHS - 50 MINUTES.

c=fl~fiil A\ r- ~ - rN\lifi & '~~ "7'~ 5ai5~1~ ,...,.11~u~~~s!E -~ PUTS YOU IN THE AIR WITH LOTS OF AERIAL FOOTAGE. . • TAHOE/RENO AREA SITE GUIDE • MONTEREY STEEPLE CHASE RACE & GUIDE • TELLURIDE HIGH ALTITUDE SITE GUIDE, AEROB./\TIC FESTIVAL FOR BEGINNER THROUGH EXPERT PILOTS WITH HANG GLIDING ANO SOME PARAGLAOING VHS - 90 MINS.

THERm1K - THE ART oF FLYING EUROPEAN VIDEO THAT EXPLAINS ALL ASPECTS OF HANG GLIDING AND PARAGLIDING FLIGHT: FROM THE FIRST STEP TO PROFESSIONAL COMPETITION FLYING, AND FROM SAFETY ASPECTS TO METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS. FOR PILOTS AND NON-PILOTS. VHS - 40 MINS.Ad f V'd SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER I eo CLOUDBASE 3 _ EXTREME 34.95 Paul Hamilton SIERRA CLOUDBASE 11 . 29.95 4750 Townsit.e Road THERMIK . 49.95 Reno, NV 89511 USA POSTAGE & HANDLING ... 4.00 Phone/FAX 702-849-9672

ven_ ure

CALL OR WRITE FOR OTHER ACTION VIDEOS

Once upon a time. a hang gl1d1ng l1arness was simply a kid's swing seat with a couple of straps. Gliders were also made of bamboo. plastic sheeting and lots of duct tape Hov,.i things hai1e changed 1 The ability to fly longer. higher and farther than prevousl11 imaginable requires that a harness be a virtual higli-tech cockpit and then some Here's 1ust some of what's designed into all of Air Wear Sports· harnesses *Style* Comfort-for long XC * Ease of use* Balancedfor better landing rotation * In-flight tilt adjustment * Warmth * Safety * Quality 1"1aterials * Flexibility-for aerobatics * Convenience-folds small * Integrity of workmanship * Competitive price* Variable crute arrangements * Continuous webbing * and more. What's most important to you7 We build , . the EX Harness (shown) for comfort and \ strength first. then everything naturally comes along Try one on at your dealer's shop for 15-20 minutes to see what we mean Then look closely at ti,e 25 very special features we include as standard items. Whether you are a ne,v pilot or have logged a thousand 30 colors to hours. you'll be proud to own an choose from 1nclud1ng EX Harness for 11ears to come the hot fluorescents. ~ Call us for the de~ler near you.

J.~) ~~- ...~ ~UU/etbt~~~ Air Wear Sports, Inc. "103 South 28th St Herrin. IL 629"18 618/9"12-5317

LEARN TO FLY THE RIGHT WAY!

HANG GLIDING FLYING SKILLS by Dennis Pagen ... HAS HELPED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PILOTS REALIZE THEIR DREAM OF FLIGHT FOR OVER 15 YEARS. • USHGA officially approved training manual. • The only training manual written by a certified instructor . • 12 large chapters detailing every phase of beginning to intermediate flight. • USed in most us hang gliding SChOOIS.

* *DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED**

SEND CH ECK OR CASH TOc SPORT AVIATION PUBLICATIONS PO.Box101 MINGOVILLE, PA 16856

• Translated in six languages. • The most complete book available emphasizing safety and effective training. DON'T LEA VE THE GROUND WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERT TECHNIQUES FOUND IN HANG GLIDING FL YING SKILLS

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THESE OTHER BOOKS BY DENNIS PAGEN: •UNDERSTANDING THE SKY-A complete guide to sport aviation weather-$19.95 .HANG GLIDING FLYING TECHNIQUES-Detailed information for intermediate to advanced pilots-$6.95 .PARAGLIDING FLIGHT-Learn to fly from ground zero to thermal flying-$19.95 • POWERED ULTRALIGHT FLYING-A complete guide to the sport-$11.95 • POWERED ULT. TRAINING COURSE-20 ground schools and lessons-$9.95

DEALER INQUIRIES INVITED Please rush me the books listed below: QUANTITY C Understanding the Sky . . .s,9.95 ::: Hang Gliding Flying Skills ...... S9.95 Hang Gilding Techniques . . .... S6.95 Ci Powered Ultralight Flying . . . . . $11.95 ~ Powered UL Training Course ...... S9.95

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i::;;jjji K4- the difference is AIRWAVE

Airwave K Series K4 - the Airwave team again set the standards . Sporty but friendly handling, powerful performance. 1 55 sq ft of efficiency for the mid-weight pilot. High performance hang gliding means fast efficient climbs followed by long extended glides . It means leisurely thermall ing , ground skimming dives or exhilarating wingovers . With the K4 it's all pure enjoyment.

, NEWS FLASH! K Series Wins!

Owens Valley Pre-Worlds John Pendry K4155 1st European Championships John Pendry K4155 1st Region 2 Championships Mark Bennett K4155 1st Ken Brown K4155 2nd Reto Schelari K2145 3rd Torrey Pines Air Races David Smith K3160 1st Jeff Williamson K2145 2nd Nathan Welchel K3160 3rd Don't wait till you've been passed up on your way to cloud base or goal. Hook into the K Series today!

\..

The K4 is a state of the art hang glider which today means not only a high top speed but also an amazingly low stall speed . It means light precise handling combined with co-ordination so good that thermalling becomes a pure delight. It means having an efficient trimmer system which transforms the glider from being docile and easy handling into an out and out racer which will convert that precious altitude into cross country distance fast and efficiently. It means a glider that is light weight for general easy use and for easy transportation. It means a glider that has been thoroughly tested both for extremes of load and pitch stability plus being comprehensively flight tested . It means a glider built with quality and integrity using the best available materials. It means K4 .

K4 - the essential wing. ~

Pacific Airwave, 1 083 Madison Lane, Salinas, California 93907. Phone (408) 422 -2299 Fax (408) 758 3270